Method and device for assisting heart disease diagnosis

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method of assisting in diagnosis of a target heart disease using a retinal image, the method including: obtaining a target retinal image which is obtained by imaging a retina of a testee; on the basis of the target retinal image, obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistance information of the testee according to the target retinal image, via a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model which obtains diagnosis assistance information that is used for diagnosis of the target heart disease according to the retinal image; and outputting the heart disease diagnosis assistance information of the testee.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is bypass continuation application of International PCTapplication No. PCT/KR2018/016388 filed on Dec. 20, 2018, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/694,901 filed on Jul. 6,2018, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/715,729 filed on Aug. 7, 2018,U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/776,345 filed on Dec. 6, 2018,Republic of Korea Patent Application No. 10-2017-0175865 filed on Dec.20, 2017, Republic of Korea Patent Application No. 10-2018-0157560 filedon Dec. 7, 2018, Republic of Korea Patent Application No.10-2018-0157561 filed on Dec. 7, 2018, and Republic of Korea PatentApplication No. 10-2018-0157559 filed on Dec. 7, 2018, which areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Disclosure

The present invention relates to a method and device for assisting inheart disease diagnosis, and more particularly, to a method and devicefor assisting in heart disease diagnosis using an artificial neuralnetwork model.

2. Description of the Related Arts.

The fundus examination is a diagnosis assistance material frequentlyutilized in ophthalmology since it is able to observe the abnormalitiesof the retina, optic nerve, and macula and allows the results to beconfirmed by relatively simple imaging. In recent years, the fundusexamination has been increasingly used because, through the fundusexamination, it is able to observe not only eye diseases but also adegree of blood vessel damage caused by chronic diseases such ashypertension and diabetes by a non-invasive method.

Meanwhile, due to the recent rapid development of deep learningtechnology, the development of diagnostic artificial intelligence hasbeen actively carried out in the field of medical diagnosis, especiallythe field of image-based diagnosis. Global companies such as Google andIBM have invested heavily in the development of artificial intelligencefor analyzing a variety of medical video data, including large-scaledata input through collaborations with the medical community. Somecompanies have succeeded in developing an artificial intelligencediagnostic tool that outputs superior diagnostic results.

However, since it is able to non-invasively observe blood vessels in thebody when fundus images are used, there has been a demand for expandingthe application of diagnosis using fundus images not only for eyediseases but also for systemic diseases.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod of assisting in diagnosis of a target heart disease using afundus image, the method including: obtaining a target fundus imagewhich is obtained by imaging a fundus of a testee; on the basis of thetarget fundus image, obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation of the testee according to the target fundus image, via aheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model which obtainsdiagnosis assistance information that is used for diagnosis of thetarget heart disease according to the fundus image; and outputting theheart disease diagnosis assistance information of the testee, whereinthe heart disease diagnosis assistance information includes at least oneof grade information which includes a grade selected from a plurality ofgrades indicating an extent of risk of the target heart disease, scoreinformation which is numerical value information for determining anextent of risk of the target heart disease, and risk information whichindicates whether the testee belongs to a risk group for the targetheart disease.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for assisting in diagnosis of a target heart disease using afundus image, the method including: obtaining a target fundus imagewhich is obtained by imaging a fundus of a testee; obtaining heartdisease diagnosis assistance information of the testee, via a heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model which obtains heartdisease diagnosis assistance information on the basis of a fundus imagebased on a reconstructed target fundus image which is obtained byperforming reconstruction by which a blood vessel element is highlightedin the target fundus image; and outputting the heart disease diagnosisassistance information of the testee, wherein the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model is trained using fundus imagetraining data including a plurality of fundus images in which bloodvessel elements are highlighted and a plurality of heart diseasediagnosis assistance labels assigned to the plurality of fundus images.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a heart disease diagnosis assistance device which is adiagnostic device for assisting in diagnosis of a target heart diseaseusing a fundus image, the heart disease diagnosis assistance deviceincluding: a fundus image obtaining unit configured to obtain a targetfundus image which is obtained by imaging a fundus of a testee; a heartdisease diagnosis assistance information obtaining unit configured to,on the basis of the target fundus image, obtain heart disease diagnosisassistance information of the testee according to the target fundusimage, via a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelwhich obtains diagnosis assistance information that is used fordiagnosis of the target heart disease according to the fundus image; anda heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit configuredto output the obtained heart disease diagnosis assistance information,wherein the heart disease diagnosis assistance information includes atleast one of grade information which includes a grade selected from aplurality of grades indicating an extent of risk of the target heartdisease, score information which is numerical value information fordetermining an extent of risk of the target heart disease, and riskinformation which indicates whether the testee belongs to a risk groupfor the target heart disease.

Technical solutions of the present invention are not limited to thosementioned above, and other unmentioned technical solutions should beclearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which thepresent invention pertains from the present specification and theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagnosis assistance system according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for describing a training device according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for describing the training device in moredetail according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for describing a diagnostic device accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view for describing the diagnostic device according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a diagnosis assistance system according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram for describing a client device according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view for describing a diagnosis assistance process accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view for describing a configuration of a training unitaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram for describing an image data setaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view for describing image resizing according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view for describing expansion of an image data setaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram for describing a training process of a neuralnetwork model according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram for describing a training process of a neuralnetwork model according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a view for describing a control method of a training deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a view for describing a control method of a training deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a view for describing a control method of a training deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a view for describing a configuration of a diagnostic unitaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a view for describing diagnosis target data according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a view for describing a diagnostic process according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a view for describing a parallel diagnosis assistance systemaccording to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a view for describing a parallel diagnosis assistance systemaccording to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a view for describing a configuration of a training deviceincluding a plurality of training units according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 24 is a view for describing a parallel training process accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a view for describing the parallel training process accordingto another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram for describing a diagnostic unit according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a view for describing a diagnosis assistance processaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a view for describing a diagnosis assistance system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a view for describing a graphical user interface according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a view for describing a graphical user interface according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a view for describing fundus image area division according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a view for describing heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation with which a fundus image is labeled.

FIG. 33 is a view for describing a training unit 400 according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a view for describing a method of training a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 35 is a view for describing a method of training a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 36 is a view for describing a method of training a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 37 is a view for describing a method of training a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 38 is a view for describing a diagnostic unit 500 according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a view for describing a heart disease diagnosis assistancedevice 5000 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 43 is a view for describing a heart disease diagnosis assistancedevice 5001 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 44 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 45 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 46 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 47 is a view for describing a diagnosis assistance method accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 48 is a view for describing a diagnosis assistance method accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 49 is a view for describing a parallel diagnosis assistance systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 50 is a view for describing a parallel diagnosis assistance systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 51 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 52 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 53 is a view for describing a heart disease diagnosis assistancedevice according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 54 is a view for describing a heart disease diagnosis assistancedevice according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 55 illustrates a training device 1001 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 56 is a view for describing a method of training a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 57 is a view for describing a diagnostic device 2001 according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 58 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 59 is a view for describing a diagnosis assistance system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 60 is a view for describing a diagnosis assistance system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 61 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 62 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 63 is a view for describing a heart disease diagnosis assistancedevice 7000 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 64 is a view for describing the heart disease diagnosis assistancedevice 7000 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 65 is a view for describing a training device according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 66 is a view for describing a training device according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 67 is a view for describing a method of training a diagnosisassistance neural network model according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 68 is a view for describing a method of training a diagnosisassistance neural network model according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 69 is a view for describing a diagnostic device 2004 according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 70 is a view for describing a diagnostic device 2005 according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 71 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 72 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 73 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 74 is a view for describing a graphical interface for displayingdiagnosis assistance information according to an embodiment of theinvention described herein.

FIG. 75 is a view for describing a graphical interface for displayingdiagnosis assistance information according to an embodiment of theinvention described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One object of the present invention is to provide a method of assistingin heart disease diagnosis.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method ofassisting in heart disease diagnosis using a neural network model on thebasis of a fundus image.

Objects to be achieved by the present invention are not limited to thosementioned above, and other unmentioned objects should be clearlyunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presentinvention pertains from the present specification and the accompanyingdrawings.

According to the present invention, information that may be used inheart disease diagnosis can be obtained on the basis of a fundus image.

According to the present invention, various pieces of information thatmay be used in heart disease diagnosis can be obtained on the basis of afundus image.

According to the present invention, information that may be used inheart disease diagnosis can be obtained on the basis of left-eye andright-eye fundus images.

Advantageous effects of the present invention are not limited to thosementioned above, and other unmentioned advantageous effects should beclearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which thepresent invention pertains from the present specification and theaccompanying drawings.

The foregoing objects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed descriptionrelated to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however,that various modifications may be applied to the invention, and theinvention may have various embodiments. Hereinafter, specificembodiments, which are illustrated in the drawings, will be described indetail.

In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions are exaggeratedfor clarity. When it is indicated that an element or layer is “on” or“above” another element or layer, this includes a case in which anotherlayer or element is interposed therebetween as well as a case in whichthe element or layer is directly above the other element or layer. Inprinciple, like reference numerals designate like elements throughoutthe specification. In the following description, like reference numeralsare used to designate elements which have the same function within thesame idea illustrated in the drawings of each embodiment.

When detailed description of known functions or configurations relatedto the present invention is deemed to unnecessarily blur the gist of theinvention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Also,numerals (e.g., first, second, etc.) used in the description herein aremerely identifiers for distinguishing one element from another element.

In addition, the terms “module” and “unit” used to refer to elements inthe following description are given or used in combination only inconsideration of ease of writing the specification, and the termsthemselves do not have distinct meanings or roles.

A method according to an embodiment may be implemented in the form of aprogram command that can be executed through various computer means andmay be recorded in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readablemedium may include program commands, data files, data structures, andthe like alone or in combination. The program commands recorded in themedium may be those specially designed and configured for the embodimentor those known to those skilled in the art of computer software andusable. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium includemagnetic media such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, and a magnetic tape,optical media such as compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), and adigital versatile disk (DVD), magneto-optical media such as a flopticaldisk, and hardware devices such as a read only memory (ROM), a randomaccess memory (RAM), and a flash memory specially configured to storeand execute a program command. Examples of the program command includehigh-level language codes that may be executed by a computer using aninterpreter or the like as well as machine language codes generated by acompiler. The above-mentioned hardware device may be configured tooperate as one or more software modules to execute operations accordingto an embodiment, and vice versa.

Diagnosis assistance using fundus image

1.1 System and Process for Diagnosis Assistance

1.1.1 Purpose and Definition

Hereinafter, a system and method for diagnosis assistance for assistingin determination of the presence of a disease or illness on the basis ofa fundus image or the presence of an abnormality which is a basis of thedetermination will be described. Particularly, a system or method fordiagnosis assistance in which a neural network model for diagnosing adisease is constructed using a deep learning technique and detection ofthe presence of a disease or abnormal findings is assisted using theconstructed model will be described.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system or methodfor diagnosis assistance in which diagnostic information related to thepresence of a disease, findings information used in diagnosis of thepresence of a disease, or the like are obtained on the basis of a fundusimage and diagnosis is assisted using the obtained information may beprovided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system or methodfor diagnosis assistance in which diagnosis of an eye disease isassisted on the basis of a fundus image may be provided. For example, asystem or method for diagnosis assistance in which diagnosis is assistedby obtaining diagnostic information related to the presence of glaucoma,cataract, macular degeneration, retinopathy of prematurity of a testeemay be provided.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a system ormethod for diagnosis assistance in which diagnosis of a disease otherthan an eye disease (for example, a systemic disease or a chronicdisease) is assisted may be provided. For example, a system or methodfor diagnosis assistance in which diagnosis is assisted by obtainingdiagnostic information on a systemic disease such as hypertension,diabetes, Alzheimer's, cytomegalovirus, stroke, heart disease, andarteriosclerosis may be provided.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, a systemor method for diagnosis assistance for detecting abnormal fundusfindings that may be used in diagnosis of an eye disease or otherdiseases may be provided. For example, a system or method for diagnosisassistance for obtaining findings information such as abnormal color ofthe entire fundus, opacity of crystalline lens, abnormal cup-to-disc(C/D) ratio, macular abnormalities (e.g., macular hole), an abnormaldiameter or course of a blood vessel, an abnormal diameter of theretinal artery, retinal hemorrhage, generation of exudate, and drusenmay be provided.

In the specification, diagnosis assistance information may be understoodas encompassing diagnostic information according to determination of thepresence of a disease, findings information which is a basis of thedetermination, or the like.

Configuration of Diagnosis Assistance System

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a diagnosisassistance system may be provided.

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagnosis assistance system 10 according to anembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the diagnosisassistance system 10 may include a training device 1000 configured totrain a diagnostic model, a diagnostic device 2000 configured to performdiagnosis using the diagnostic model, and a client device 3000configured to obtain a diagnosis request. The diagnosis assistancesystem 10 may include a plurality of training devices, a plurality ofdiagnostic devices, or a plurality of client devices.

The training device 1000 may include a training unit 100. The trainingunit 100 may perform training of a neural network model. For example,the training unit 100 may obtain a fundus image data set and performtraining of a neural network model that detects a disease or abnormalfindings from a fundus image.

The diagnostic device 2000 may include a diagnostic unit 200. Thediagnostic unit 200 may perform diagnosis of a disease or obtainassistance information used for the diagnosis by using a neural networkmodel. For example, the diagnostic unit 200 may obtain diagnosisassistance information by using a diagnostic model trained by thetraining unit.

The client device 3000 may include an imaging unit 300. The imaging unit300 may capture a fundus image. The client device may be an ophthalmicfundus imaging device. Alternatively, the client device 3000 may be ahandheld device such as a smartphone or a tablet personal computer (PC).

In the diagnosis assistance system 10 according to the presentembodiment, the training device 1000 may obtain a data set and train aneural network model to determine a neural network model to be used indiagnosis assistance, the diagnostic device may obtain diagnosisassistance information according to a diagnosis target image by usingthe determined neural network model when an information request isobtained from the client device, and the client device may request thediagnostic device for information and obtain diagnosis assistanceinformation transmitted in response to the request.

A diagnosis assistance system according to another embodiment mayinclude a diagnostic device configured to train a diagnostic model andperform diagnosis using the same and may include a client device. Adiagnosis assistance system according to still another embodiment mayinclude a diagnostic device configured to train a diagnostic model,obtain a diagnosis request, and perform diagnosis. A diagnosisassistance system according to yet another embodiment may include atraining device configured to train a diagnostic model and a diagnosticdevice configured to obtain a diagnosis request and perform diagnosis.

The diagnosis assistance system disclosed herein is not limited to theabove-described embodiments and may be implemented in any form includinga training unit configured to train a model, a diagnostic unitconfigured to obtain diagnosis assistance information according to thetrained image, and an imaging unit configured to obtain a diagnosistarget image.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of each device constituting the systemwill be described.

1.1.2.1 Training Device

A training device according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay train a neural network model that assists diagnosis.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for describing a training device 1000according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.2, the training device 1000 may include a control unit 1200 and a memoryunit 1100.

The training device 1000 may include the control unit 1200. The controlunit 1200 may control operation of the training device 1000.

The control unit 1200 may include one or more of a central processingunit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a graphic processing unit(GPU), one or more microprocessors, and an electronic component capableof processing input data according to predetermined logic.

The control unit 1200 may read a system program and various processingprograms stored in the memory unit 1100. For example, the control unit1200 may develop a data processing process for performing diagnosisassistance which will be described below, a diagnostic process, and thelike in a RAM and perform various processes according to a developedprogram. The control unit 1200 may perform training of a neural networkmodel which will be described below.

The training device 1000 may include the memory unit 1100. The memoryunit 1100 may store data required for training and a training model.

The memory unit 1100 may be implemented using a nonvolatilesemiconductor memory, a hard disk, a flash memory, a RAM, a ROM, anelectrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), or other tangiblenonvolatile recording media.

The memory unit 1100 may store various processing programs, parametersfor processing programs, result data of such processing, or the like.For example, the memory unit 1100 may store a data processing processprogram for performing diagnosis assistance which will be describedbelow, a diagnostic process program, parameters for executing eachprogram, data obtained according to execution of such programs (forexample, processed data or diagnosis result values), and the like.

The training device 1000 may include a separate training unit (ortraining module). The training unit may train a neural network model.The training will be described in more detail below in Section “2.Training process.”

The training unit may be included in the above-described control unit1200. The training unit may be stored in the above-described memory unit1100. The training unit may be implemented by partial configurations ofthe above-described control unit 1200 and memory unit 1100. For example,the training unit may be stored in the memory unit 1100 and driven bythe control unit 1200.

The training device 1000 may further include a communication unit 1300.The communication unit 1300 may communicate with an external device. Forexample, the communication unit 1300 may communicate with a diagnosticdevice, a server device, or a client device which will be describedbelow. The communication unit 1300 may perform wired or wirelesscommunication. The communication unit 1300 may perform bidirectional orunidirectional communication.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for describing the training device 1000 inmore detail according to another embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 3, the training device 1000 may include a processor1050, a volatile memory 1030, a nonvolatile memory 1010, a mass storagedevice 1070, and a communication interface 1090.

The processor 1050 of the training device 1000 may include a dataprocessing module 1051 and a training module 1053. The processor 1050may process a data set stored in the mass storage device or nonvolatilememory through the data processing module 1051. The processor 1050 maytrain a diagnosis assistance neural network model through the trainingmodule 1053. The processor 1050 may include a local memory. Thecommunication interface 1090 may be connected to a network 1110.

However, the training device 1000 illustrated in FIG. 3 is merely anexample, and the configuration of the training device 1000 according tothe present invention is not limited thereto. Particularly, the dataprocessing module or training module may be provided at locationsdifferent from those illustrated in FIG. 3.

1.1.2.2 Diagnostic Device

A diagnostic device may obtain diagnosis assistance information using aneural network model.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for describing a diagnostic device 2000according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.4, the diagnostic device 2000 may include a control unit 2200 and amemory unit 2100.

The control unit 2200 may generate diagnosis assistance informationusing a diagnosis assistance neural network model. The control unit 2200may obtain diagnostic data for diagnosis (for example, fundus data of atestee) and obtain diagnosis assistance information predicted by thediagnostic data using a trained diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel.

The memory unit 2100 may store a trained diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model. The memory unit 2100 may store parameters, variables, andthe like of a diagnosis assistance neural network model.

The diagnostic device 2000 may further include a communication unit2300. The communication unit 2300 may communicate with a training deviceand/or a client device. For example, the diagnostic device 2000 may beprovided in the form of a server that communicates with a client device.This will be described in more detail below.

FIG. 5 is a view for describing the diagnostic device 2000 according toanother embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, thediagnostic device 2000 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include a processor 2050, a volatile memory 2030, anonvolatile memory 2010, a mass storage device 2070, and a communicationinterface 2090.

The processor 2050 of the diagnostic device may include a dataprocessing module 2051 and a diagnostic module 2053. The processor 2050may process diagnostic data through the data processing module 2051 andobtain diagnosis assistance information according to the diagnostic datathrough the diagnostic module 2053.

1.1.2.3 Server Device

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a diagnosisassistance system may include a server device. The diagnosis assistancesystem according to an embodiment of the present invention may alsoinclude a plurality of server devices.

The server device may store and/or drive a neural network model. Theserver device may store weights constituting a trained neural networkmodel. The server device may collect or store data used in diagnosisassistance.

The server device may output a result of a diagnosis assistance processusing a neural network model to a client device. The server device mayobtain feedback from the client device. The server device may operatesimilar to the above-described diagnostic device.

FIG. 6 illustrates a diagnosis assistance system 20 according to anembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, the diagnosisassistance system 20 according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay include a diagnostic server 4000, a training device, and a clientdevice.

The diagnostic server 4000, i.e., server device, may communicate with aplurality of training devices or a plurality of diagnostic devices.Referring to FIG. 6, the diagnostic server 4000 may communicate with afirst training device 1000 a and a second training device 1000 b.Referring to FIG. 6, the diagnostic server 4000 may communicate with afirst client device 3000 a and a second client device 3000 b.

For example, the diagnostic server 4000 may communicate with the firsttraining device 1000 a configured to train a first diagnosis assistanceneural network model that obtains a first diagnosis assistanceinformation and the second training device 1000 b configured to train asecond diagnosis assistance neural network model that obtains a seconddiagnosis assistance information.

The diagnostic server 4000 may store the first diagnosis assistanceneural network model that obtains the first diagnosis assistanceinformation and the second diagnosis assistance neural network modelthat obtains the second diagnosis assistance information, obtaindiagnosis assistance information in response to a request for obtainingdiagnosis assistance information from the first client device 3000 a orthe second client device 3000 b, and transmit the obtained diagnosisassistance information to the first client device 3000 a or the secondclient device 3000 b.

Alternatively, the diagnostic server 4000 may communicate with the firstclient device 3000 a that requests for the first diagnosis assistanceinformation and the second client device 3000 b that requests for thesecond diagnosis assistance information.

1.1.2.4 Client Device

A client device may request a diagnostic device or a server device fordiagnosis assistance information. The client device may obtain datarequired for diagnosis and transmit the obtained data to the diagnosticdevice.

The client device may include a data obtaining unit. The data obtainingunit may obtain data required for diagnosis assistance. The dataobtaining unit may be an imaging unit configured to obtain an image usedin a diagnosis assistance model.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram for describing the client device 3000according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.7, the client device 3000 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include an imaging unit 3100, a control unit 3200, and acommunication unit 3300.

The imaging unit 3100 may obtain image or video data. The imaging unit3100 may obtain a fundus image. However, in the client device 3000, theimaging unit 3100 may also be substituted with another form of dataobtaining unit.

The communication unit 3300 may communicate with an external device,e.g., a diagnostic device or a server device. The communication unit3300 may perform wired or wireless communication.

The control unit 3200 may control the imaging unit 3100 to obtain imagesor data. The control unit 3200 may control the imaging unit 3100 toobtain a fundus image. The control unit 3200 may transmit the obtainedfundus image to the diagnostic device. The control unit may transmit animage obtained through the imaging unit 3100 to the server devicethrough the communication unit 3300 and obtain diagnosis assistanceinformation generated on the basis of the obtained image.

Although not illustrated, the client device may further include anoutput unit. The output unit may include a display configured to outputa video or an image or may include a speaker configured to output sound.The output unit may output video or image data obtained by the imagingunit. The output unit may output diagnosis assistance informationobtained from the diagnostic device.

Although not illustrated, the client device may further include an inputunit. The input unit may obtain a user input. For example, the inputunit may obtain a user input that requests for diagnosis assistanceinformation. The input unit may obtain information on a user whoevaluates diagnosis assistance information obtained from the diagnosticdevice.

In addition, although not illustrated, the client device may furtherinclude a memory unit. The memory unit may store an image obtained bythe imaging unit.

1.1.3 Outline of Diagnosis Assistance Process

A diagnosis assistance process may be performed by a diagnosisassistance system or a diagnosis assistance device disclosed herein. Thediagnosis assistance process may be taken into consideration by beingmainly divided into a training process for training a diagnosisassistance model used in diagnosis assistance and a diagnostic processusing the diagnosis assistance model.

FIG. 8 is a view for describing a diagnosis assistance process accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, thediagnosis assistance process according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include a training process including obtaining andprocessing data (S110), training a neural network model (S130), andobtaining variables of the trained neural network model (S150) and adiagnosis assistance process including obtaining diagnosis target data(S210), using a neural network model trained on the basis of thediagnosis target data (S230), and obtaining diagnosis assistanceinformation using the trained neural network model (S250).

More specifically, the training process may include a data processingprocess in which input training image data is processed to a state inwhich the data may be used for model training and a training process inwhich a model is trained using the processed data. The training processmay be performed by the above-described training device.

The diagnostic process may include a data processing process in whichinput examination target image data is processed to a state in whichdiagnosis using a neural network model may be performed and a diagnosticprocess in which diagnosis is performed using the processed data. Thediagnostic process may be performed by the above-described diagnosticdevice or server device.

Hereinafter, each process will be described.

1.2 Training Process

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a process fortraining a neural network model may be provided. As a specific example,a process for training a neural network model that performs or assistsdiagnosis on the basis of a fundus image may be disclosed.

The training process which will be described below may be performed bythe above-described training device.

Training Unit

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a training processmay be performed by a training unit. The training unit may be providedin the above-described training device.

FIG. 9 is a view for describing a configuration of a training unit 100according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.9, the training unit 100 may include a data processing module 110, aqueue module 130, a training module 150, and a training result obtainingmodule 170. As will be described below, the modules may performindividual steps of a data processing process and a training process.However, not all of the elements described with reference to FIG. 9 andfunctions performed by the elements are essential, and some elements maybe added or omitted according to a form of training.

1.2.2 Data Processing Process

1.2.2.1 Obtaining Image Data

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a data set may beobtained. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a dataprocessing module may obtain a data set.

The data set may be an image data set. Specifically, the data set may bea fundus image data set. The fundus image data set may be obtained usinga general non-mydriatic fundus camera or the like. A fundus image may bea panorama image. The fundus image may be a red-free image. The fundusimage may be an infrared image. The fundus image may be anautofluorescence image. The image data may be obtained in any one formatamong JPG, PNG, DCM (DICOM), BMP, GIF, and TIFF.

The data set may include a training data set. The data set may include atest data set. The data set may include a validation data set. In otherwords, the data set may be assigned as at least one of a training dataset, a test data set, and a validation data set.

The data set may be determined in consideration of diagnosis assistanceinformation that is desired to be obtained using a neural network modeltrained through the corresponding data set. For example, when it isdesired to train a neural network model that obtains diagnosisassistance information related to cataract, an infrared fundus imagedata set may be determined as a data set to be obtained. Alternatively,when it is desired to train a neural network model that obtainsdiagnosis assistance information related to macular degeneration, anobtained data set may be an autofluorescence fundus image data set.

Individual data included in a data set may include a label. There may bea plurality of labels. In other words, individual data included in adata set may be labeled in relation to at least one feature. Forexample, a data set may be a fundus image data set including a pluralityof fundus image data, and each fundus image data may include a labelrelated to diagnostic information (for example, the presence of aspecific disease) and/or a label related to findings information (forexample, whether a specific site is abnormal) according to thecorresponding image.

As another example, a data set may be a fundus image data set, and eachfundus image data may include a label related to peripheral informationon the corresponding image. For example, each fundus image data mayinclude a label related to peripheral information including lefteye/right eye information on whether the corresponding fundus image isan image of the left eye or an image of the right eye, genderinformation on whether the corresponding fundus image is a fundus imageof a female or a fundus image of a male, age information on the age of atestee to which the corresponding fundus image belongs, and the like.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram for describing an image data set DSaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.10, the image data set DS according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include a plurality of image data ID. Each image data IDmay include an image I and a label L assigned to the image. Referring toFIG. 10, the image data set DS may include a first image data ID1 and asecond image data ID2. The first image data ID1 may include a firstimage 11 and a first label L1 corresponding to the first image.

Although the case in which a single image data includes a single labelhas been described above with reference to FIG. 10, a single image datamay include a plurality of labels as described above.

1.2.2.2 Image Resizing

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the size of anobtained piece of image data may be adjusted. That is, images may beresized. According to an embodiment of the present invention, imageresizing may be performed by the data processing module of theabove-described training unit.

The size or aspect ratio of an image may be adjusted. Sizes of aplurality of obtained images may be adjusted so that the images have acertain size. Alternatively, the sizes of the images may be adjusted sothat the images have a certain aspect ratio. Resizing an image mayinclude applying an image conversion filter to an image.

When the sizes or capacities of obtained individual images areexcessively large or small, the size or volume of an image may beadjusted to convert the image to an appropriate size. Alternatively,when the sizes or capacities of individual images vary, the sizes orcapacities may be made uniform through resizing.

According to an embodiment, a volume of an image may be adjusted. Forexample, when a volume of an image exceeds an appropriate range, theimage may be reduced through down-sampling. Alternatively, when a volumeof an image is below an appropriate range, the image may be enlargedthrough up-samplling or interpolating.

According to another embodiment, an image may be cut or pixels may beadded to an obtained image to adjust the size or aspect ratio of theimage. For example, when a portion unnecessary for training is includedin an image, a portion of the image may be cropped to remove theunnecessary portion. Alternatively, when a portion of the image is cutaway and a set aspect ratio is not met, a column or row may be added tothe image to adjust the aspect ratio of the image. In other words, amargin or padding may be added to the image to adjust the aspect ratio.

According to still another embodiment, the volume and the size or aspectratio of the image may be adjusted together. For example, when a volumeof an image is large, the image may be down-sampled to reduce the volumeof the image, and an unnecessary portion included in the reduced imagemay be cropped to convert the image to appropriate image data.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an orientationof image data may be changed.

As a specific example, when a fundus image data set is used as a dataset, the volume or size of each fundus image may be adjusted. Croppingmay be performed to remove a margin portion excluding a fundus portionof a fundus image, or padding may be performed to supplement a cut-awayportion of a fundus image and adjust an aspect ratio thereof

FIG. 11 is a view for describing image resizing according to anembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 11, an obtainedfundus image may be resized by an image resizing process according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Specifically, an original fundus image (a) may be cropped as shown in(b) so that a margin portion unnecessary for obtaining diagnosticinformation is removed or the size thereof may be reduced as shown in(c) for enhancing the training efficiency.

1.2.2.3 Image Pre-Processing

According to an embodiment of the present invention, imagepre-processing may be performed. When an input image is used as it is intraining, an overfitting phenomenon may occur as a result of a trainingfor unnecessary characteristics, and the training efficiency may also bedegraded.

To prevent this, image data may be appropriately pre-processed to servea purpose of training, thereby improving the efficiency and performanceof training. For example, pre-processing of a fundus image may beperformed to facilitate detection of abnormal symptoms of an eyedisease, or pre-processing of a fundus image may be performed so thatchanges in retinal vessels or blood flow are emphasized.

Image pre-processing may be performed by the data processing module ofthe above-described training unit. The data processing module may obtaina resized image and perform pre-processing required for training.

Image pre-processing may be performed on the above-mentioned resizedimage. However, content of the invention disclosed herein is not limitedthereto, and image pre-processing may also be performed without theresizing process. Pre-processing an image may include applying apre-processing filter to the image.

According to an embodiment, a blur filter may be applied to an image. AGaussian filter may be applied to an image. A Gaussian blur filter mayalso be applied to an image. Alternatively, a deblur filter whichsharpens an image may be applied to the image.

According to another embodiment, a filter that adjusts or modulatescolor of an image may be applied. For example, a filter that changesvalues of some components of RGB values constituting an image orbinarizes the image may be applied.

According to still another embodiment, a filter that causes a specificelement in an image to be emphasized may be applied to the image. Forexample, pre-processing that causes a blood vessel element to beemphasized from each image may be performed on fundus image data. Inthis case, the pre-processing that causes a blood vessel element to beemphasized may include applying one or more filters sequentially or incombination.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, imagepre-processing may be performed in consideration of a characteristic ofdiagnosis assistance information that is desired to be obtained. Forexample, when it is desired to obtain diagnosis assistance informationrelated to findings such as retinal hemorrhage, drusen, microaneurysms,and exudates, pre-processing that converts an obtained fundus image intoa red-free fundus image may be performed.

1.2.2.4 Image Augmentation

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an image may beaugmented or expanded. Image augmentation may be performed by the dataprocessing module of the above-described training unit.

Augmented images may be used for improving performance of training aneural network model. For example, when an amount of data for training aneural network model is insufficient, existing training image data maybe modulated to increase the number of data for training, and modulated(or modified) images may be used together with an original image,thereby increasing the number of training image data. Accordingly,overfitting may be suppressed, layers of a model may be formed deeper,and accuracy of prediction may be improved.

For example, expansion of image data may be performed by reversing theleft and right of an image, cutting(cropping) a part of the image,correcting a color value of the image, or adding artificial noise to theimage. As a specific example, cutting a part of the image may beperformed by cutting a partial region of an element constituting animage or randomly cutting partial regions. In addition, image data maybe expanded by reversing the left and right of the image data, reversingthe top and bottom of the image data, rotating the image data, resizingthe image data to a certain ratio, cropping the image data, padding theimage data, adjusting color of the image data, or adjusting brightnessof the image data.

For example, the above-described augmentation or expansion of image datamay be generally applied to a training data set. However, theaugmentation or expansion of image data may also be applied to otherdata sets, for example, a test data set, i.e., a data set for testing amodel on which training using training data and validation usingvalidation data have been completed.

As a specific example, when a fundus image data set is used as a dataset, an augmented fundus image data set may be obtained by randomlyapplying one or more processes of reversing an image, cutting an image,adding noise to an image, and changing color of an image to increase thenumber of data.

FIG. 12 is a view for describing expansion of an image data setaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.12, an image according to embodiments of the present invention may bedeformed to improve prediction accuracy of a neural network model.

Specifically, referring to FIG. 12, partial regions may be dropped outfrom an image according to embodiments of the present invention as shownin (a), the left and right of the image may be reversed as shown in (b),a central point of the image may be moved as shown in (c) and (d), andcolor of partial regions of the image may be modulated as shown in (e).

1.2.2.5 Image Serialization

According to an embodiment of the present invention, image data may beserialized. An image may be serialized by the data processing module ofthe above-described training unit. A serializing module may serializepre-processed image data and transmit the serialized image data to aqueue module.

When image data is used as it is in training, since the image data hasan image file format such as JPG, PNG, and DCM, decoding is necessary.However, when training is performed through decoding every time,performance of training a model may be degraded. Accordingly, trainingmay be performed using an serialized image instead of using the imagefile as it is in training. Therefore, image data may be serialized toimprove the performance and speed of training. The image data beingserialized may be image data to which one or more steps of theabove-described image resizing and image pre-processing are applied ormay be image data on which neither the image resizing nor the imagepre-processing has been processed.

Each piece of image data included in an image data set may be convertedto a string format. Image data may be converted to a binarized dataformat. Particularly, image data may be converted to a data formatsuitable for use in training a neural network model. For example, imagedata may be converted to the TFRecord format for use in training aneural network model using Tensorflow.

As a specific example, when a fundus image set is used as a data set,the obtained fundus image set may be converted to the TFRecord formatand used in training a neural network model.

1.2.2.6 Queue

A queue may be used for solving a data bottleneck phenomenon. The queuemodule of the above-described training unit may store image data in aqueue and transmit the image data to a training module.

Particularly, when a training process is performed by using a CPU and aGPU together, a bottleneck phenomenon between the CPU and the GPU may beminimized, access to a database may be facilitated, and the memory usageefficiency may be enhanced by using a queue.

A queue may store data used in training a neural network model. Thequeue may store image data. The image data stored in the queue may beimage data on which at least one of the above-described data processingprocesses (that is, resizing, pre-processing, and augmentation) areprocessed or may be image data that is unchanged after being obtained.

A queue may store image data, preferably, serialized image data asdescribed above. The queue may store image data and supply the imagedata to a neural network model. The queue may transfer image data inbatch size to a neural network model.

A queue may provide image data. The queue may provide data to a trainingmodule which will be described below. As data is extracted from thetraining module, the number of data accumulated in the queue may bedecreased.

When the number of data stored in the queue is decreased to a referencenumber or lower as training of a neural network model is performed, thequeue may request for supplementation of data. The queue may request forsupplementation of a specific type of data. When the queue requests thetraining unit for supplementation of data, the training unit maysupplement the queue with data.

A queue may be provided in a system memory of the training device. Forexample, the queue may be formed in a RAM of a CPU. In this case, thesize, i.e., volume, of the queue may be set according to the capacity ofthe RAM of the CPU. A first-in-first-out (FIFO) queue, a primary queue,or a random queue may be used as the queue.

1.2.3 Training Process

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a training processof a neural network model may be disclosed.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, training of aneural network model may be performed by the above-described trainingdevice. A training process may be performed by the control unit of thetraining device. A training process may be performed by the trainingmodule of the above-described training unit.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram for describing a training process of a neuralnetwork model according to an embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 13, a training process of a neural network modelaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may be performed byobtaining data (S1010), training a neural network model (S1030),validating the trained model (S1050), and obtaining variables of thetrained model (S1070).

Hereinafter, some embodiments of a training process of a neural networkmodel will be described with reference to FIG. 13.

1.2.3.1 Data Input

A data set for training a diagnosis assistance neural network model maybe obtained.

Obtained data may be an image data set processed by the above-describeddata processing process. For example, a data set may include fundusimage data which is adjusted in size, has a pre-processing filterapplied thereto, is augmented and then serialized.

In training a neural network model, a training data set may be obtainedand used. In validating the neural network model, a validation data setmay be obtained and used. In testing the neural network model, a testdata set may be obtained and used. Each data set may include fundusimages and labels.

A data set may be obtained from a queue. The data set may be obtained inbatches from the queue. For example, when sixty data sets are designatedas the size of a batch, sixty data sets may be extracted at a time fromthe queue. The size of a batch may be limited by the capacity of a RAMof a GPU.

A data set may be randomly obtained from a queue by the training module.Data sets may also be obtained in order of being accumulated in thequeue.

The training module may extract a data set by designating aconfiguration of a data set to be obtained from the queue. For example,the training module may extract fundus image data having a left eyelabel of a specific patient and fundus image data having a right eyelabel of the specific patient to be used together in training.

The training module may obtain a data set having a specific label fromthe queue. For example, the training module may obtain fundus image datain which a diagnostic information label is abnormal label from thequeue. The training module may obtain a data set from the queue bydesignating a ratio between numbers of data according to certain labels.For example, the training module may obtain a fundus image data set fromthe queue so that the number of fundus image data in which a diagnosticinformation label is abnormal and the number of fundus image data inwhich the diagnostic information label is normal has a 1:1 ratio.

1.2.3.2 Model Design

A neural network model may be a diagnosis assistance model that outputsdiagnosis assistance information on the basis of image data. A structureof a diagnosis assistance neural network model for obtaining diagnosisassistance information may have a predetermined form. The neural networkmodel may include a plurality of layers.

A neural network model may be implemented in the form of a classifierthat generates diagnosis assistance information. The classifier mayperform binary classification or multiclass classification. For example,a neural network model may be a binary classification model thatclassifies input data as a normal or abnormal class in relation totarget diagnosis assistance information such as a specific disease orabnormal symptoms. Alternatively, a neural network model may be amulticlass classification model that classifies input data into aplurality of classes in relation to a specific characteristic (forexample, a degree of disease progression). Alternatively, a neuralnetwork model may be implemented as a regression model that outputsspecific values related to a specific disease.

A neural network model may include a convolutional neural network (CNN).As a CNN structure, at least one of AlexNet, LENET, NIN, VGGNet, ResNet,WideResnet, GoogleNet, FractaNet, DenseNet, FitNet, RitResNet,HighwayNet, MobileNet, and DeeplySupervisedNet may be used. The neuralnetwork model may be implemented using a plurality of CNN structures.

For example, a neural network model may be implemented to include aplurality of VGGNet blocks. As a more specific example, a neural networkmodel may be provided by coupling between a first structure in which a3×3 CNN layer having 64 filters, a batch normalization (BN) layer, and aReLu layer are sequentially coupled and a second block in which a 3×3CNN layer having 128 filters, a ReLu layer, and a BN layer aresequentially coupled.

A neural network model may include a max pooling layer subsequent toeach CNN block and include a global average pooling (GAP) layer, a fullyconnected (FC) layer, and an activation layer (for example, sigmoid,softmax, and the like) at an end.

1.2.3.3 Model Training

A neural network model may be trained using a training data set.

A neural network model may be trained using a labeled data set. However,a training process of a diagnosis assistance neural network modeldescribed herein is not limited thereto, and a neural network model mayalso be trained in an unsupervised form using unlabeled data.

Training of a neural network model may be performed by obtaining aresult value using a neural network model to which arbitrary weights areassigned on the basis of training image data, comparing the obtainedresult value with a label value of the training data, and performingbackpropagation according to an error therebetween to optimize theweights. Also, training of a neural network model may be affected by aresult of validating the model, a result of testing the model, and/orfeedback on the model received from the diagnosis step.

The above-described training of a neural network model may be performedusing Tensorflow. However, the present invention is not limited thereto,and a framework such as Theano, Keras, Caffe, Torch, and MicrosoftCognitive Toolkit (CNTK) may also be used in training a neural networkmodel.

1.2.3.4 Model Validation

A neural network model may be validated using a validation data set.Validation of a neural network model may be performed by obtaining aresult value related to a validation data set from a neural networkmodel which has been trained and comparing the result value with a labelof the validation data set. The validation may be performed by measuringaccuracy of the result value. Parameters of a neural network model (forexample, weights and/or bias) or hyperparameters (for example, learningrate) of the neural network model may be adjusted according to avalidation result.

For example, the training device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may train a neural network model that predictsdiagnosis assistance information on the basis of a fundus image andcompare diagnosis assistance information on a validated fundus image ofthe trained model with a validation label corresponding to the validatedfundus image to perform validation of the diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model.

In validation of a neural network model, an external data set, that is,a data set having a distinguished factor not included in a training dataset, may be used. For example, the external data set may be a data setin which factors such as race, environment, age, and gender aredistinguished from the training data set.

1.2.3.5 Model Test

A neural network model may be tested using a test data set.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 13, according to the training processaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, a neural networkmodel may be tested using a test data set which is differentiated from atraining data set and a validation data set. Parameters of a neuralnetwork model (for example, weights and/or bias) or hyperparameters (forexample, learning rate) of the neural network model may be adjustedaccording to a test result.

For example, the training device according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may obtain a result value which has test fundus imagedata, which has not been used in the training and validation, as inputfrom the neural network model which has been trained to predictdiagnosis assistance information on the basis of a fundus image and mayperform testing of the diagnosis assistance neural network model whichhas been trained and validated.

In testing of the neural network model, an external data set, that is, adata set having a factor distinguished from the training data set and/orvalidation data set, may be used.

1.2.3.6 Output of Result

As a result of training a neural network model, optimized parametervalues of the model may be obtained. As training of the model using atest data set as described above is repeatedly performed, moreappropriate parameter (variable) values may be obtained. When thetraining is sufficiently performed, optimized values of weights and/orbias may be obtained.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a trained neuralnetwork model and/or parameters or variables of the trained neuralnetwork model may be stored in the training device and/or diagnosticdevice (or server). The trained neural network model may be used inpredicting diagnosis assistance information by the diagnostic deviceand/or client device. Also, the parameters or variables of the trainedneural network model may be updated by feedback obtained from thediagnostic device or client device.

1.2.3.7 Model Ensemble

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in a process oftraining a single diagnosis assistance neural network model, a pluralityof sub-models may be simultaneously trained. The plurality of sub-modelsmay have different layer structures.

In this case, the diagnosis assistance neural network model according toan embodiment of the present invention may be implemented by combining aplurality of sub-neural network models. In other words, training of aneural network model may be performed using an ensemble technique inwhich a plurality of sub-neural network models are combined.

When a diagnosis assistance neural network model is configured byforming an ensemble, since prediction may be performed by synthesizingresults predicted from various forms of sub-neural network models,accuracy of result prediction may be further improved.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram for describing a training process of a neuralnetwork model according to an embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 14, the training process of a neural network modelaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may includeobtaining a data set (S1011), training a first model (that is, firstneural network model) and a second model (that is, second neural networkmodel) using the obtained data (S1031, S1033), validating the trainedfirst neural network model and second neural network model (S1051), anddetermining a final neural network model and obtaining parameters orvariables thereof (S1072).

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the training process of a neuralnetwork model will be described with reference to FIG. 14.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality ofsub-neural network models may obtain the same training data set andindividually generate output values. In this case, an ensemble of theplurality of sub-neural network models may be determined as a finalneural network model, and parameter values related to each of theplurality of sub-neural network models may be obtained as trainingresults. An output value of the final neural network model may be set toan average value of the output values by the sub-neural network models.Alternatively, in consideration of accuracy obtained as a result ofvalidating each of the sub-neural network models, the output value ofthe final neural network model may be set to a weighted average value ofthe output values of the sub-neural network models.

As a more specific example, when a neural network model includes a firstsub-neural network model and a second sub-neural network model,optimized parameter values of the first sub-neural network model andoptimized parameter values of the second sub-neural network model may beobtained by machine learning. In this case, an average value of outputvalues (for example, probability values related to specific diagnosisassistance information) obtained from the first sub-neural network modeland second sub-neural network model may be determined as an output valueof the final neural network model.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, accuracy ofindividual sub-neural network models may be evaluated on the basis ofoutput values by each of the plurality of sub-neural network models. Inthis case, any one of the plurality of sub-neural network models may beselected on the basis of the accuracy and determined as the final neuralnetwork model. A structure of the determined sub-neural network modeland parameter values of the determined sub-neural network model obtainedas a result of training may be stored.

As a more specific example, when a neural network model includes a firstsub-neural network model and a second sub-neural network model,accuracies of the first sub-neural network model and second sub-neuralnetwork model may be obtained, and a more accurate sub-neural networkmodel may be determined as the final neural network model.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, one ormore sub-neural network models among a plurality of neural networkmodels may be combined, ensembles of the one or more combined sub-neuralnetwork models may be formed, and each ensemble may be evaluated,wherein a combination of sub-neural network models which forms the mostaccurate ensemble among the plurality of ensembles may be determined asa final neural network model. In this case, an ensemble may be formedfor all possible cases of selecting one or more of the plurality ofsub-neural network models, and a combination of sub-neural networkmodels which is evaluated to be the most accurate may be determined as afinal neural network model.

As a more specific example, when a neural network model includes a firstsub-neural network model and a second sub-neural network model, accuracyof the first sub-neural network model, accuracy of the second sub-neuralnetwork model, and accuracy of an ensemble of the first and secondsub-neural network models may be compared, and a sub-neural networkmodel combination of the most accurate case may be determined as a finalneural network model.

1.2.4 Embodiment 1—Control Method of Training Device

FIG. 15 is a view for describing a control method of a training deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 15, the control method of a training device accordingto an embodiment of the present invention may include pre-processing afirst fundus image (S110), serializing the pre-processed first fundusimage (S130), and training a first neural network model (S150).

The control method of a training device according to an embodiment ofthe present invention may be a control method of a training deviceincluded in a system including a training device configured to obtain afirst training data set including a plurality of fundus images, processthe fundus images included in the first training data set, and train afirst neural network model using the first training data set and adiagnostic device configured to obtain a target fundus image forobtaining diagnosis assistance information and obtain the diagnosisassistance information on the basis of the target fundus image by usingthe trained first neural network model.

The pre-processing of the first fundus image (S110) may further includepre-processing the first fundus image so that the first fundus imageincluded in the first training data set is converted to a formatsuitable for training the first neural network model.

The control method of the training device according to an embodiment ofthe present invention may include the serializing of the pre-processedfirst fundus image (S130). The first fundus image may be serialized to aformat that facilitates training of the neural network model.

In this case, the training of the first neural network model (S150) mayfurther include training the first neural network model that classifiesthe target fundus image as a first label or a second label by using theserialized first fundus image.

The training device may obtain a second training data set which includesthe plurality of fundus images and at least partially differs from thefirst training data set and may train a second neural network modelusing the second training data set.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control methodof the training device may further include pre-processing a secondfundus image so that the second fundus image included in the second datatraining set is suitable for training the second neural network model,serializing the pre-processed second fundus image, and training thesecond neural network model that classifies the target fundus image as athird label or a fourth label by using the serialized second fundusimage.

FIG. 16 is a view for describing a control method of a training deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.16, the control method of a training device according to an embodimentof the present invention may include pre-processing a second fundusimage (S210), serializing the pre-processed second fundus image (S230),and training a second neural network model (S250).

Although, for convenience of description, it has been depicted in FIG.16 that the pre-processing of the second fundus image, the serializingof the second fundus image, and the training using the second fundusimage may be performed subsequent to the pre-processing of the firstfundus image, the serializing of the first fundus image, and thetraining using the first fundus image, content of the invention is notlimited thereto.

The pre-processing of the second fundus image included in the secondtraining data set, the serializing of the second fundus image, and thetraining using the second fundus image may be performed independently ofthe above-described pre-processing of the first fundus image,serializing of the first fundus image, and training using the firstfundus image. The pre-processing of the second fundus image included inthe second training data set, the serializing of the second fundusimage, and the training using the second fundus image may be performedin parallel with the above-described pre-processing of the first fundusimage, serializing of the first fundus image, and training using thefirst fundus image. In other words, the pre-processing of the secondfundus image included in the second training data set, the serializingof the second fundus image, and the training using the second fundusimage are not necessarily performed subsequent or prior to theabove-described pre-processing of the first fundus image, serializing ofthe first fundus image, and training using the first fundus image. Theprocess related to the first fundus image and the process related to thesecond fundus image may be performed without dependence on each other.

First pre-processing performed in relation to the fundus image includedin the first training data set may be distinguished from secondpre-processing performed in relation to the fundus image included in thesecond training data set. For example, the first pre-processing may bepre-processing for emphasizing a blood vessel, and the secondpre-processing may be pre-processing for modulating color. Eachpre-processing may be determined in consideration of diagnosisassistance information desired to be obtained through each neuralnetwork model.

The control method of the training device according to an embodiment ofthe present invention may further include validating the first neuralnetwork model by evaluating accuracy of the trained first neural networkmodel by using a first validation data set that is at least partiallydistinguished from the first training data set and validating the secondneural network model by evaluating accuracy of the trained second neuralnetwork model by using a second validation data set that is at leastpartially distinguished from the second training data set. In this case,validation of the first neural network model and validation of thesecond neural network model may be performed independently of eachother.

Serialized first fundus images may be sequentially stored in a firstqueue, and a predetermined unit volume of the serialized fundus imagesstored in the first queue may be used each time in training the firstneural network model. Serialized second fundus images may besequentially stored in a second queue distinguished from the firstqueue, and a predetermined unit volume of the serialized fundus imagesstored in the second queue may be used each time in training the secondneural network model.

The first neural network model may include a first sub-neural networkmodel and a second sub-neural network model. In this case, classifying atarget fundus image as the first label or the second label may beperformed by simultaneously taking into consideration a first predictedvalue predicted by the first sub-neural network model and a secondpredicted value predicted by the second sub-neural network model.

The second neural network model may include a third sub-neural networkmodel and a fourth sub-neural network model. In this case, classifying atarget fundus image as the third label or the fourth label may beperformed by simultaneously taking into consideration a third predictedvalue predicted by the third sub-neural network model and a fourthpredicted value predicted by the fourth sub-neural network model.

The first training data set may include at least some of fundus imageslabeled with the first label, and the second training data set mayinclude at least some of fundus images labeled with the third label. Inthis case, the fundus images labeled with the first label may be thesame as at least some of the fundus images labeled with the third label.

The first label may be a normal label indicating that a patientcorresponding to the target fundus image is normal in relation to afirst finding, and the second label may be an abnormal label indicatingthat the patient is abnormal in relation to a second finding.

The pre-processing of the first fundus image may include cropping thefirst fundus image so that a reference aspect ratio is satisfied andchanging the size of the first fundus image.

The pre-processing of the first fundus image may further include, by aprocessing unit, applying a blood vessel emphasizing filter to thefundus image so that a blood vessel included in the first fundus imageis emphasized.

Serialized first fundus images may be sequentially stored in a queue,and a predetermined number of the serialized first fundus images storedin the queue may be used each time in training the first neural networkmodel. When the capacity of the serialized first fundus images whichhave not been used in the training of the first neural network model isreduced to a reference amount or lower, the queue may request forsupplementation of the serialized first fundus images.

The first finding may be any one of a finding of retinal hemorrhage, afinding of generation of retinal exudates, a finding of opacity ofcrystalline lens, and a finding of diabetic retinopathy.

FIG. 17 is a view for describing a control method of a training deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 17, the control method of the training deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may further includevalidating the first neural network model (S170) and updating the firstneural network model (S190).

The validating of the first neural network model (S170) may furtherinclude validating the first neural network model by evaluating accuracyof the trained first neural network model by using the first validationdata set that is at least partially distinguished from the firsttraining data set.

The updating of the first neural network model (S190) may furtherinclude updating the first neural network model by reflecting avalidation result obtained from the validating of the first neuralnetwork model (S170).

Meanwhile, the first neural network model may include a first sub-neuralnetwork model and a second sub-neural network model. In this case, thetraining of the first neural network model may include validating thefirst sub-neural network model using the first validation data set toobtain accuracy of the first sub-neural network model, validating thesecond sub-neural network model using the first validation data set toobtain accuracy of the second sub-neural network model, and comparingthe accuracy of the first sub-neural network model and the accuracy ofthe second sub-neural network model to determine a more accuratesub-neural network model as the final neural network model.

1.3. Diagnosis Assistance Process

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a diagnosisassistance process (or diagnostic process) in which diagnosis assistanceinformation is obtained using a neural network model may be provided. Asa specific example, by the diagnosis assistance process, diagnosisassistance information (for example, diagnostic information or findingsinformation) may be predicted through a diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model trained using a fundus image.

The diagnosis assistance process which will be described below may beperformed by a diagnostic device.

1.3.1 Diagnostic Unit

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a diagnosticprocess may be performed by a diagnostic unit 200. The diagnostic unit200 may be provided in the above-described diagnostic device.

FIG. 18 is a view for describing a configuration of the diagnostic unit200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 18, the diagnostic unit 200 may include a diagnosis requestobtaining module 210, a data processing module 230, a diagnostic module250, and an output module 270.

As will be described below, the modules may perform individual steps ofa data processing process and a training process. However, not all ofthe elements described with reference to FIG. 18 and functions performedby the elements are essential, and some elements may be added or omittedaccording to an aspect of diagnosis.

1.3.2 Obtaining Data and Diagnosis Request

The diagnostic device according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may obtain diagnosis target data and obtain diagnosisassistance information on the basis of the obtained diagnosis targetdata. The diagnosis target data may be image data. The obtaining of thedata and obtaining of a diagnosis request may be performed by thediagnosis request obtaining module of the above-described diagnosticunit.

FIG. 19 is a view for describing diagnosis target data TD according toan embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 19, thediagnosis target data TD may include a diagnosis target image TI anddiagnosis target patient information PI.

The diagnosis target image TI may be an image for obtaining diagnosisassistance information on a diagnosis target patient. For example, thediagnosis target image may be a fundus image. The diagnosis target imageTI may have any one format among JPG, PNG, DCM (DICOM), BMP, GIF, andTIFF.

The diagnosis patient information PI may be information for identifyinga patient to be diagnosed. Alternatively, the diagnosis patientinformation PI may be characteristic information of a patient or animage to be diagnosed. For example, the diagnosis patient information PImay include information such as the date and time of imaging and imagingequipment of an image to be diagnosed or information such as anidentification (ID) number, an ID, name, age, or weight of a patient tobe diagnosed. When the image to be diagnosed is a fundus image, thediagnosis patient information PI may further include eye-relatedinformation such as left eye/right eye information on whether thecorresponding fundus image is an image of the left eye or an image ofthe right eye.

The diagnostic device may obtain a diagnosis request. The diagnosticdevice may obtain diagnosis target data together with the diagnosisrequest. When the diagnosis request is obtained, the diagnostic devicemay obtain diagnosis assistance information using a trained diagnosisassistance neural network model. The diagnostic device may obtain adiagnosis request from a client device. Alternatively, the diagnosticdevice may obtain a diagnosis request from a user through aseparately-provided input means.

1.3.3 Date Processing Process

Obtained data may be processed. Data processing may be performed by thedata processing module of the above-described diagnostic unit.

Generally, a data processing process may be performed similar to thedata processing process in the above-described training process.Hereinafter, the data processing process in the diagnostic process willbe described focusing on differences from the data processing process inthe training process.

In the diagnostic process, the diagnostic device may obtain data as inthe training process. In this case, the obtained data may have the sameformat as the data obtained in the training process. For example, whenthe training device has trained a diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel using image data in the DCM format in the training process, thediagnostic device may obtain the DCM image and obtain diagnosisassistance information using the trained neural network model.

In the diagnostic process, the obtained image to be diagnosed may beresized similar to the image data used in the training process. Toefficiently perform prediction of diagnosis assistance informationthrough the trained diagnosis assistance neural network model, the formof the image to be diagnosed may be adjusted to have a suitable volume,size, and/or aspect ratio.

For example, when an image to be diagnosed is a fundus image, resizingof the image such as removing an unnecessary portion of the image orreducing the size of the image may be performed to predict diagnosticinformation on the basis of the fundus image.

In the diagnostic process, similar to the image data used in thetraining process, a pre-processing filter may be applied to the obtainedimage to be diagnosed. A suitable filter may be applied to the image tobe diagnosed so that accuracy of prediction of diagnosis assistanceinformation through a trained diagnosis assistance neural network modelis further improved.

For example, when an image to be diagnosed is a fundus image,pre-processing that facilitates prediction of correct diagnosticinformation, for example, image pre-processing that causes a bloodvessel to be emphasized or image pre-processing that causes a specificcolor to be emphasized or weakened, may be applied to the image to bediagnosed.

In the diagnostic process, similar to the image data used in thetraining process, the obtained image to be diagnosed may be serialized.The image to be diagnosed may be converted to a form that facilitatesdriving of a diagnostic model in a specific work frame or may beserialized.

The serializing of the image to be diagnosed may be omitted. This may bebecause, in the diagnostic process, the number of data processed at onetime by a processor is not large unlike in the training process, andthus the burden on data processing speed is relatively small.

In the diagnostic process, similar to the image data used in thetraining process, the obtained image to be diagnosed may be stored in aqueue. However, since the number of data being processed is smaller inthe diagnostic process in comparison to that in the training process,storing data in a queue may also be omitted.

Meanwhile, since an increase in the number of data is not required inthe diagnostic process, it is preferable that, in order to obtainaccurate diagnosis assistance information, the process of dataaugmentation or image augmentation is not used, unlike in the trainingprocess.

1.3.4 Diagnostic Process

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a diagnosticprocess using a trained neural network model may be disclosed. Thediagnostic process may be performed by the above-described diagnosticdevice. The diagnostic process may be performed by the above-describeddiagnostic server. The diagnostic process may be performed by thecontrol unit of the above-described diagnostic device. The diagnosticprocess may be performed by the diagnostic module of the above-describeddiagnostic unit.

FIG. 20 is a view for describing a diagnostic process according to anembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 20, thediagnostic process may include obtaining diagnosis target data (S2010),using a trained neural network model (S2030), and obtaining andoutputting a result corresponding to the obtained diagnosis target data(S2050). However, data processing may be selectively performed.

Hereinafter, each step of the diagnostic process will be described withreference to FIG. 20.

1.3.4.1 Data Input

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the diagnosticmodule may obtain diagnosis target data. The obtained data may be dataprocessed as described above. For example, the obtained data may be apatient's fundus image data to which pre-processing that causes the sizeto be adjusted and a blood vessel to be emphasized is applied. Accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, a left eye image and a righteye image of a single patient may be input together as diagnosis targetdata.

1.3.4.2 Data Classification

A diagnosis assistance neural network model provided in the form of aclassifier may classify input diagnosis target images into a positiveclass or a negative class in relation to a predetermined label.

A trained diagnosis assistance neural network model may receivediagnosis target data and output a predicted label. The traineddiagnosis assistance neural network model may output a predicted valueof diagnosis assistance information. Diagnosis assistance informationmay be obtained using the trained diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel. The diagnosis assistance information may be determined on thebasis of the predicted label.

For example, the diagnosis assistance neural network model may predictdiagnostic information (that is, information on the presence of adisease) or findings information (that is, information on the presenceof abnormal findings) related to an eye disease or a systemic disease ofthe patient. In this case, the diagnostic information or findingsinformation may be output in the form of a probability. For example, theprobability that the patient has a specific disease or the probabilitythat there may be a specific abnormal finding in the patient's fundusimage may be output. When a diagnosis assistance neural network modelprovided in the form of a classifier is used, a predicted label may bedetermined in consideration of whether an output probability value (orpredicted score) exceeds a threshold value.

As a specific example, a diagnosis assistance neural network model mayoutput a probability value with respect to the presence of diabeticretinopathy in a patient with the patient's fundus image as a diagnosistarget image. When a diagnosis assistance neural network model in theform of a classifier that assumes 1 as normal is used, a patient'sfundus image may be input to the diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel, and in relation to whether the patient has diabetic retinopathy,a normal:abnormal probability value may be obtained in the form of0.74:0.26 or the like.

Although the case in which data is classified using the diagnosisassistance neural network model in the form of a classifier has beendescribed herein, the present invention is not limited thereto, and aspecific diagnosis assistance numerical value (for example, bloodpressure or the like) may also be predicted using a diagnosis assistanceneural network model implemented in the form of a regression model.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, suitabilityinformation on an image may be obtained. The suitability information mayindicate whether a diagnosis target image is suitable for obtainingdiagnosis assistance information using a diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model.

The suitability information of an image may be quality information. Thequality information or suitability information may indicate whether adiagnosis target image reaches a reference level.

For example, when a diagnosis target image has a defect due to a defectof imaging equipment or an influence of an illumination during imaging,a result indicating that the diagnosis target image is unsuitable may beoutput as suitability information of the corresponding diagnosis targetimage. When a diagnosis target image includes noise at a predeterminedlevel or higher, the diagnosis target image may be determined as beingunsuitable.

The suitability information may be a value predicted using a neuralnetwork model. Alternatively, the suitability information may beinformation obtained through a separate image analysis process.

According to an embodiment, even when an image is classified asunsuitable, diagnosis assistance information may be obtained on thebasis of the unsuitable image.

According to an embodiment, an image classified as unsuitable may bereexamined by a diagnosis assistance neural network model.

In this case, the diagnosis assistance neural network model thatperforms the reexamination may differ from a diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model that performs initial examination. For example, thediagnostic device may store a first diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel and a second diagnosis assistance neural network model, and animage classified as unsuitable through the first diagnosis assistanceneural network model may be examined through the second diagnosisassistance neural network model.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, a classactivation map (CAM) may be obtained from a trained neural networkmodel. Diagnosis assistance information may include a CAM. The CAM maybe obtained together with other diagnosis assistance information.

The CAM may be obtained optionally. For example, the CAM may beextracted and/or output when diagnostic information or findingsinformation obtained by a diagnosis assistance model is classified intoan abnormal class.

1.3.5 Output of Diagnosis Assistance Information

Diagnosis assistance information may be determined on the basis of alabel predicted from a diagnosis assistance neural network model.

Output of diagnosis assistance information may be performed by theoutput module of the above-described diagnostic unit. Diagnosisassistance information may be output from the diagnostic device to aclient device. Diagnosis assistance information may be output from thediagnostic device to a server device. Diagnosis assistance informationmay be stored in the diagnostic device or diagnostic server. Diagnosisassistance information may be stored in a separately-provided serverdevice or the like.

Diagnosis assistance information may be managed by being formed into adatabase. For example, obtained diagnosis assistance information may bestored and managed together with a diagnosis target image of a subjectaccording to an identification number of the corresponding subject. Inthis case, the diagnosis target image and diagnosis assistanceinformation of the patient may be managed in chronological order. Bymanaging the diagnosis assistance information and diagnosis target imagein time series, tracking personal diagnostic information and managinghistory thereof may be facilitated.

Diagnosis assistance information may be provided to a user. Thediagnosis assistance information may be provided to the user through anoutput means of a diagnostic device or client device. The diagnosisassistance information may be output through a visual or aural outputmeans provided in the diagnostic device or client device so that theuser may recognize the diagnosis assistance information.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an interface foreffectively providing diagnosis assistance information to a user may beprovided. Such a user interface will be described in more detail belowin Section “5. User interface.”

When a CAM is obtained by a neural network model, an image of the CAMmay be provided together. The image of the CAM may be selectivelyprovided. For example, the CAM image may not be provided when diagnosticinformation obtained through a diagnosis assistance neural network modelis normal findings information or normal diagnostic information, and theCAM image may be provided together for more accurate clinical diagnosiswhen the obtained diagnostic information is abnormal findingsinformation or abnormal diagnostic information.

When an image is classified as unsuitable, suitability information ofthe image may be provided together. For example, when an image isclassified as unsuitable, diagnosis assistance information and“unsuitable” judgment information obtained according to thecorresponding image may be provided together.

A diagnosis target image that has been judged to be unsuitable may beclassified as an image to be retaken. In this case, a retake guide for atarget patient of the image classified as an image to be retaken may beprovided together with the suitability information.

Meanwhile, in response to providing of diagnosis assistance informationobtained through a neural network model, feedback related to training ofthe neural network model may be obtained. For example, feedback foradjusting a parameter or hyperparameter related to training of theneural network model may be obtained. The feedback may be obtainedthrough a user input unit provided in the diagnostic device or clientdevice.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, diagnosisassistance information corresponding to a diagnosis target image mayinclude level information. The level information may be selected among aplurality of levels. The level information may be determined on thebasis of diagnostic information and/or findings information obtainedthrough a neural network model. The level information may be determinedin consideration of suitability information or quality information of adiagnosis target image. When a neural network model is a classifiermodel that performs multiclass classification, the level information maybe determined in consideration of a class into which a diagnosis targetimage is classified by the neural network model. When a neural networkmodel is a regression model that outputs a numerical value related to aspecific disease, the level information may be determined inconsideration of the output numerical value.

For example, diagnosis assistance information obtained corresponding toa diagnosis target image may include any one level information selectedfrom a first level information and a second level information. Whenabnormal findings information or abnormal diagnostic information isobtained through a neural network model, the first level information maybe selected as the level information. When abnormal findings informationor abnormal diagnostic information is not obtained through a neuralnetwork model, the second level information may be selected as the levelinformation. Alternatively, the first level information may be selectedas the level information when a numerical value obtained through aneural network model exceeds a reference numerical value, and the secondlevel information may be selected as the level information when theobtained numerical value is less than the reference numerical value. Thefirst level information may indicate that strong abnormal information ispresent in a diagnosis target image compared with the second levelinformation.

Meanwhile, a third level information may be selected as the levelinformation when the quality of a diagnosis target image is determinedto a reference quality or lower using image analysis or a neural networkmodel. Alternatively, diagnosis assistance information may include thethird level information together with the first or second levelinformation.

When diagnosis assistance information includes the first levelinformation, a first user guide may be output through an output means.The first user guide may indicate that a more precise test is requiredfor a testee(patient) corresponding to the diagnosis assistanceinformation. For example, the first user guide may indicate thatsecondary diagnosis (for example, diagnosis in a separate medicalinstitution or a hospital transfer procedure) is required for thepatient. Alternatively, the first user guide may indicate treatmentrequired for the patient. As a specific example, when abnormalinformation on macular degeneration of the patient is obtained bydiagnosis assistance information, the first user guide may includeinjection prescription and a guide on a hospital transfer procedure (forexample, a list of hospitals to which transfer is possible) related tothe patient.

When diagnosis assistance information includes the second levelinformation, a second user guide may be output through an output means.The second user guide may include future care plans related to thepatient corresponding to the diagnosis assistance information. Forexample, the second user guide may indicate the time of next visit andthe next medical course.

When diagnosis target information includes the third level information,a third user guide may be output through an output means. The third userguide may indicate that a diagnosis target image has to be retaken. Thethird user guide may include information on the quality of the diagnosistarget image. For example, the third user guide may include informationon an artifact present in a diagnosis target image (for example, whetherthe artifact is a bright artifact or a dark artifact, or the degreethereof).

1.4 Diagnosis Assistance System for Multiple Labels

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a diagnosisassistance system for performing prediction on a plurality of labels(for example, a plurality of diagnosis assistance information) may beprovided. For this, a diagnosis assistance neural network of theabove-mentioned diagnosis assistance system may be designed to performprediction on a plurality of labels.

Alternatively, in the above-mentioned diagnosis assistance system, aplurality of diagnosis assistance neural networks that performprediction on different labels may be used in parallel. Hereinafter,such a parallel diagnosis assistance system will be described.

1.4.1 Configuration of Parallel Diagnosis Assistance System

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a paralleldiagnosis assistance system for obtaining a plurality of diagnosisassistance information may be provided. The parallel diagnosisassistance system may train a plurality of neural network models forobtaining a plurality of diagnosis assistance information and obtain theplurality of diagnosis assistance information using the trainedplurality of neural network models.

For example, the parallel diagnosis assistance system may train, on thebasis of fundus images, a first neural network model that obtains afirst diagnosis assistance information related to the presence of an eyedisease of a patient and a second neural network model that obtains asecond diagnosis assistance information related to the presence of asystemic disease of the patient and may output the diagnosis assistanceinformation related to the presence of an eye disease and the presenceof a systemic disease of the patient by using the trained first neuralnetwork model and the second neural network model.

FIGS. 21 and 22 are views for describing a parallel diagnosis assistancesystem according to some embodiments of the present invention. Referringto FIGS. 21 and 22, the parallel diagnosis assistance system may includea plurality of training units.

Referring to FIG. 21, a parallel diagnosis assistance system 30according to an embodiment of the present invention may include atraining device 1000, a diagnostic device 2000, and a client device3000. In this case, the training device 1000 may include a plurality oftraining units. For example, the training device 1000 may include afirst training unit 100 a and a second training unit 100 b.

Referring to FIG. 22, a parallel diagnosis assistance system 40according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a firsttraining device 1000 a, a second training device 1000 b, a diagnosticdevice 2000, and a client device 3000. The first training device 1000 amay include a first training unit 100 a. The second training device 1000b may include a second training unit 100 b.

Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, the first training unit 100 a may obtain afirst data set and output a first parameter set of a first neuralnetwork model obtained as a result of training the first neural networkmodel. The second training unit 100 b may obtain a second data set andoutput a second parameter set of a second neural network model obtainedas a result of training the second neural network model.

The diagnostic device 2000 may include a diagnostic unit 200.Description similar to that given above with reference to FIG. 1 may beapplied to the diagnostic device 2000 and the diagnostic unit 200. Thediagnostic unit 200 may obtain a first diagnosis assistance informationand a second diagnosis assistance information using the trained firstneural network model and second neural network model through the firsttraining unit 100 a and the second training unit 100 b. The diagnosticunit 200 may store parameters of the trained first neural network modeland parameters of the trained second neural network model obtained fromthe first training unit 100 a and the second training unit 100 b.

The client device 3000 may include a data obtaining unit, e.g., animaging unit 300. However, the imaging unit 300 may be substituted withother data obtaining means used for obtaining diagnosis assistanceinformation. The client device may transmit a diagnosis request anddiagnosis target data (for example, a fundus image obtained by theimaging unit) to the diagnostic device. In response to the transmittingof the diagnosis request, the client device 3000 may obtain, from thediagnostic device, a plurality of diagnosis assistance informationaccording to the transmitted diagnosis target data.

Meanwhile, although the case in which the diagnosis assistance system 40includes the first training unit 100 a and the second training unit 100b has been described above with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22, content ofthe invention is not limited thereto. According to another embodiment ofthe present invention, a training device may include a training unitconfigured to obtain three or more different diagnosis assistanceinformation. Alternatively, a diagnosis assistance system may alsoinclude a plurality of training devices configured to obtain differentdiagnosis assistance information

The operations of the training device, the diagnostic device, and theclient device will be described in more detail below.

1.4.2 Parallel Training Process

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality ofneural network models may be trained. Training processes for trainingthe respective neural network models may be performed in parallel.

1.4.2.1 Parallel Training Units

Training processes may be performed by a plurality of training units.The training processes may be performed independently of each other. Theplurality of training units may be provided in a single training deviceor respectively provided in a plurality of training devices.

FIG. 23 is a view for describing a configuration of a training deviceincluding a plurality of training units according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. The configuration and operation of each of thefirst training unit 100 a and the second training unit 100 b may beimplemented similar to those described above with reference to FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 23, a process of a neural network model according toan embodiment of the present invention may be performed by a trainingdevice 1000 including a first training unit 100 a which includes a firstdata processing module 110 a, a first queue module 130 a, a firsttraining module 150 a, and a first training result obtaining module 170a and a second training unit 100 b which includes a second dataprocessing module 110 b, a second queue module 130 b, a second trainingmodule 150 b, and a second training result obtaining module 170 b.

Referring to FIG. 23, a training process of a neural network modelaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may be performed byeach of the first training unit 100 a and the second training unit 100b. The first training unit 100 a and the second training unit 100 b mayindependently perform training of the first neural network model and thesecond neural network model. Referring to FIG. 23, the first trainingunit 100 a and the second training unit 100 b may be provided in theabove-described training device. Alternatively, the first training unitand the second training unit may also be provided in different trainingdevices.

1.4.2.2 Obtaining Parallel Data

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality oftraining units may obtain data. The plurality of training units mayobtain different data sets. Alternatively, the plurality of trainingunits may also obtain the same data set. According to circumstances, theplurality of training units may also obtain partially common data sets.The data sets may be fundus image data sets.

A first training unit may obtain a first data set, and a second trainingunit may obtain a second data set. The first data set and the seconddata set may be distinguished from each other. The first data set andthe second data set may be partially common. The first data set and thesecond data set may be labeled fundus image data sets.

The first data set may include data labeled as normal in relation to afirst feature and data labeled as abnormal in relation to the firstfeature. For example, the first data set may include a fundus imagelabeled as normal and a fundus image labeled as abnormal in relation tothe opacity of crystalline lens.

The second data set may include data labeled as normal in relation to asecond feature (distinguished from the first feature) and data labeledas abnormal in relation to the second feature. For example, the seconddata set may include a fundus image labeled as normal and a fundus imagelabeled as abnormal in relation to diabetic retinopathy.

The data labeled as normal in relation to the first feature and datalabeled as normal in relation to the second feature respectivelyincluded in the first data set and the second data set may be common.For example, the first data set may include a fundus image labeled asnormal and a fundus image labeled as abnormal in relation to the opacityof crystalline lens, and the second data set may include a fundus imagelabeled as normal and a fundus image labeled as abnormal in relation todiabetic retinopathy, wherein the fundus image labeled as normal inrelation to the opacity of crystalline lens included in the first dataset and the fundus image labeled as normal in relation to diabeticretinopathy included in the second data set may be common.

Alternatively, the data labeled as abnormal in relation to the firstfeature and the data labeled as abnormal in relation to the secondfeature respectively included in the first data set and the second dataset may also be common. That is, data labeled in relation to a pluralityof features may be used in training a neural network model in relationto the plurality of features.

Meanwhile, the first data set may be a fundus image data set capturedusing a first method, and the second data set may be a fundus image dataset captured using a second method. The first method and the secondmethod may be any one method selected from red-free imaging, panoramicimaging, autofluorescence imaging, infrared imaging, and the like.

A data set used in each training unit may be determined in considerationof diagnosis assistance information obtained by a trained neural networkmodel. For example, when the first training unit trains a first neuralnetwork model which desires to obtain diagnosis assistance informationrelated to abnormal findings of the retina (for example, microaneurysms,exudates, and the like), the first training unit may obtain a firstfundus image data set captured by red-free imaging. Alternatively, whenthe second training unit trains a second neural network model whichdesires to obtain diagnosis assistance information related to maculardegeneration, the second training unit may obtain a second fundus imagedata set captured by autofluorescence imaging.

1.4.3 Parallel Data Processing

The plurality of training units may process obtained data. As describedabove in Section “2.2 Data processing process,” each training unit mayprocess data by applying one or more of image resizing, a pre-processingfilter, image augmentation, and image serialization to obtained data.The first data processing module of the first training unit may processa first data set, and the second data processing module of the secondtraining unit may process a second data set.

The first training unit and second training unit included in theplurality of training units may differently process obtained data setsin consideration of diagnosis assistance information obtained fromneural network models respectively trained by the first training unitand the second training unit. For example, to train a first neuralnetwork model for obtaining a first diagnosis assistance informationrelated to hypertension, the first training unit may performpre-processing that causes blood vessels to be emphasized in fundusimages included in the first fundus image data set. Alternatively, totrain a second neural network model for obtaining a second diagnosisassistance information related to abnormal findings on exudates,microaneurysms, and the like of the retina, the second training unit mayperform pre-processing that causes fundus images included in the secondfundus image data set to be converted to red-free images.

1.4.3.1 Parallel Queue

The plurality of training units may store data in a queue. As describedabove in Section “2.2.6 Queue,” each training unit may store processeddata in a queue and transmit the processed data to the training module.For example, the first training unit may store a first data set in afirst queue module and provide the first data set to a first trainingmodule sequentially or randomly. The second training module may store asecond data set in a second queue module and provide the second data setto a second training module sequentially or randomly.

1.4.3.2 Parallel Training Process

The plurality of training units may train a neural network model. Thetraining modules may independently train diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork models that perform prediction on different labels usingtraining data sets. A first training module of the first training unitmay train the first neural network model, and a second training moduleof the second training unit may train the second neural network model.

The plurality of diagnosis assistance neural network models may betrained in parallel and/or independently. By training models to performprediction on different labels through the plurality of neural networkmodels in this way, accuracy of prediction on each label may beimproved, and efficiency of the prediction operation may be enhanced.

Each diagnosis assistance neural network model may be provided similarto that described above in Section “2.3.2 Model design.” Eachsub-training process may be performed similar to that described above inSections 2.3.1 to 2.3.5.

A parallel training process according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include training diagnosis assistance neural networkmodels that predict different labels. The first training unit may traina first diagnosis assistance neural network model that predicts a firstlabel. The second training unit may train a second diagnosis assistanceneural network model that predicts a second label.

The first training unit may obtain a first data set and train the firstdiagnosis assistance neural network model that predicts the first label.For example, the first training unit may train the first diagnosisassistance neural network model that predicts the presence of maculardegeneration of a patient from a fundus image by using a fundus imagetraining data set labeled in relation to the presence of maculardegeneration.

The second training unit may obtain a second data set and train thesecond diagnosis assistance neural network model that predicts thesecond label. For example, the second training unit may train the seconddiagnosis assistance neural network model that predicts the presence ofdiabetic retinopathy of a patient from a fundus image by using a fundusimage training data set labeled in relation to the presence of diabeticretinopathy.

The training process of a neural network model will be described in moredetail below with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25.

FIG. 24 is a view for describing a parallel training process accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. The parallel training processmay be applied to all of the cases in which the parallel diagnosisassistance system is implemented as shown in FIG. 21, implemented asshown in FIG. 22, and implemented in other forms. However, forconvenience of description, description will be given below on the basisof the parallel diagnosis assistance system implemented as shown in FIG.21.

Referring to FIG. 24, the parallel training process may include aplurality of sub-training processes that respectively train a pluralityof diagnosis assistance neural network models that predict differentlabels. The parallel training process may include a first sub-trainingprocess that trains a first neural network model and a secondsub-training process that trains a second neural network model.

For example, the first sub-training process may be performed byobtaining a first data (S1010 a), using a first neural network model(S1030 a), validating the first model (that is, first diagnosisassistance neural network model) (S1050 a), and obtaining parameters ofthe first neural network model (S1070 a). The second sub-trainingprocess may be performed by obtaining a second data (S1010 b), using asecond neural network model (1030 b), validating the second neuralnetwork model (that is, second diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel) (S1050 b), and obtaining parameters of the second neural networkmodel (S1070 b).

A sub-training process may include training a neural network model byinputting training data into a sub-neural network model, comparing alabel value obtained by output with the input training data to validatethe model, and reflecting a validation result back to the sub-neuralnetwork model.

Each sub-training process may include obtaining result values using aneural network model to which arbitrary weight values are assigned,comparing the obtained result values with label values of training data,and performing backpropagation according to errors therebetween tooptimize the weight values.

In each sub-training process, a diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel may be validated through a validation data set distinguished froma training data set. Validation data sets for validating a first neuralnetwork model and a second neural network model may be distinguished.

The plurality of training units may obtain training results. Eachtraining result obtaining module may obtain information on neuralnetwork models trained from the training modules. Each training resultobtaining module may obtain parameter values of neural network modelstrained from the training units. A first training result obtainingmodule of the first training unit may obtain a first parameter set of afirst neural network model trained from a first training module. Asecond training result obtaining module of the second training unit mayobtain a second parameter set of a second neural network model trainedfrom a second training module.

By each sub-training process, optimized parameter values, that is, aparameter set, of a trained neural network model may be obtained. Astraining is performed using more training data sets, more suitableparameter values may be obtained.

A first parameter set of a first diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel trained by a first sub-training process may be obtained. A secondparameter set of a second diagnosis assistance neural network modeltrained by a second sub-training process may be obtained. As training issufficiently performed, optimized values of weights and/or bias of thefirst diagnosis assistance neural network and the second diagnosisassistance neural network may be obtained.

The obtained parameter set of each neural network model may be stored inthe training device and/or the diagnostic device (or server). The firstparameter set of the first diagnosis assistance neural network and thesecond parameter set of the second diagnosis assistance neural networkmay be stored together or separately. A parameter set of each trainedneural network model may also be updated by feedback obtained from thediagnostic device or client device.

1.4.3.3 Parallel Ensemble Training Process

Even when a plurality of neural network models are trained in parallel,The above-described ensemble form of model training may be used. Eachsub-training process may include training a plurality of sub-neuralnetwork models. The plurality of sub-models may have different layerstructures. Hereinafter, unless particularly mentioned otherwise,description similar to that given above in Section 2.3.7 may be applied.

When a plurality of diagnosis assistance neural network models aretrained in parallel, some sub-training processes among the sub-trainingprocesses that train the diagnosis assistance neural network models maytrain a single model, and other sub-training processes may train aplurality of sub-models together.

Since models are trained using ensembles in each sub-training process,more optimized forms of neural network models may be obtained in eachsub-training process, and error in prediction may be reduced.

FIG. 25 is a view for describing the parallel training process accordingto another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 25,each training process may include training a plurality of sub-neuralnetwork models.

Referring to FIG. 25, a first sub-training process may be performed byobtaining a first data S1011 a, using a first-first(1-1) neural networkmodel and a first-second(1-2) neural network model (S1031 a, S1033 a),validating the first-first(1-1) neural network model and thefirst-second(1-2) neural network model (S1051 a), and determining afinal form of the first neural network model and parameters thereof(S1071 a). A second sub-training process may be performed by obtaining asecond data (S1011 b), using a second-first(2-1) neural network modeland a second-second(2-2) neural network model (S1031 b, S1033 b),validating the second-first(2-1) neural network model and thesecond-second(2-2) neural network model (S1051 b), and determining afinal form of the second model (that is, the second diagnosis assistanceneural network model) and parameters thereof (S1071 b).

The first neural network trained in the first sub-training process mayinclude the first-first(1-1) neural network model and thefirst-second(1-2) neural network model. The first-first(1-1) neuralnetwork model and the first-second(1-2) neural network model may beprovided in different layer structures. Each of the first-first(1-1)neural network model and the first-second(1-2) neural network model mayobtain a first data set and output predicted labels. Alternatively, alabel predicted by an ensemble of the first-first(1-1) neural networkmodel and the first-second(1-2) neural network model may be determinedas a final predicted label.

In this case, the first-first(1-1) neural network model and thefirst-second(1-2) neural network model may be validated using avalidation data set, and a more accurate neural network model may bedetermined as a final neural network model. Alternatively, thefirst-first(1-1) neural network model, the first-second(1-2) neuralnetwork model, and the ensemble of the first-first(1-1) neural networkmodel and the first-second(1-2) neural network model may be validated,and a neural network model form of the most accurate case may bedetermined as a final first neural network model.

For the second sub-training process, likewise, the most accurate form ofneural network among the second-first(2-1) neural network model, thesecond-second(2-2) neural network model, and the ensemble of thesecond-first(2-1) neural network model and the second-second(2-2) neuralnetwork model may be determined as the final second model (that is,second diagnosis assistance neural network model).

Meanwhile, although, for convenience of description, the case in whicheach sub-training process includes two sub-models has been describedabove with reference to FIG. 25, this is merely an example, and thepresent invention is not limited thereto. A neural network model trainedin each sub-training process may only include a single neural networkmodel or include three or more sub-models.

1.4.4 Parallel Diagnostic Process

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a diagnosticprocess for obtaining a plurality of diagnosis assistance informationmay be provided. The diagnostic process for obtaining the plurality ofdiagnosis assistance information may be implemented in the form of aparallel diagnosis assistance process including a plurality ofdiagnostic processes which are independent from each other.

1.4.4.1 Parallel Diagnostic Unit

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a diagnosisassistance process may be performed by a plurality of diagnosticmodules. Each diagnosis assistance process may be independentlyperformed.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram for describing a diagnostic unit 200according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 26, the diagnostic unit 200 according to an embodimentof the present invention may include a diagnosis request obtainingmodule 211, a data processing module 231, a first diagnostic module 251,a second diagnostic module 253, and an output module 271. Unlessparticularly mentioned otherwise, each module of the diagnostic unit 200may operate similar to the diagnostic module of the diagnostic unitillustrated in FIG. 18.

In FIG. 26, the diagnosis request obtaining module 211, the dataprocessing module 231, and the output module 271 have been illustratedas being common even when the diagnostic unit 200 includes a pluralityof diagnostic modules, but the present invention is not limited to sucha configuration. The diagnosis request obtaining module, the dataprocessing module, and/or the output module may also be provided inplural. The plurality of diagnosis request obtaining modules, dataprocessing modules, and/or output modules may also operate in parallel.

For example, the diagnostic unit 200 may include a first data processingmodule configured to perform first processing of an input diagnosistarget image and a second data processing module configured to performsecond processing of the diagnosis target image, the first diagnosticmodule may obtain a first diagnosis assistance information on the basisof the diagnosis target image on which the first processing has beenperformed, and the second diagnostic module may obtain a seconddiagnosis assistance information on the basis of the diagnosis targetimage on which the second processing has been performed. The firstprocessing and/or second processing may be any one selected from imageresizing, image color modulation, blur filter application, blood vesselemphasizing process, red-free conversion, partial region cropping, andextraction of some elements.

The plurality of diagnostic modules may obtain different diagnosisassistance information. The plurality of diagnostic modules may obtaindiagnosis assistance information using different diagnosis assistanceneural network models. For example, the first diagnostic module mayobtain a first diagnosis assistance information related to the presenceof an eye disease of a patient by using a first neural network modelthat predicts the presence of an eye disease of the patient, and thesecond diagnostic module may obtain a second diagnosis assistanceinformation related to the presence of a systemic disease of a patientby using a second neural network model that predicts the presence of asystemic disease of the patient.

As a more specific example, the first diagnostic module may obtain afirst diagnosis assistance information related to the presence ofdiabetic retinopathy of the patient using a first diagnosis assistanceneural network model that predicts the presence of diabetic retinopathyof the patient, and the second diagnostic module may obtain a seconddiagnosis assistance information related to the presence of hypertensionusing a second diagnosis assistance neural network model that predictsthe presence of hypertension of the patient.

1.4.4.2 Parallel Diagnostic Process

A diagnosis assistance process according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include a plurality of sub-diagnostic processes. Eachsub-diagnostic process may be performed using different diagnosisassistance neural network models. Each sub-diagnostic process may beperformed in different diagnostic modules. For example, a firstdiagnostic module may perform a first sub-diagnostic process thatobtains a first diagnosis assistance information through a firstdiagnosis assistance neural network model. Alternatively, a seconddiagnostic module may perform a second sub-diagnostic process thatobtains a second diagnosis assistance information through a seconddiagnosis assistance neural network model.

The plurality of trained neural network models may output a predictedlabel or probability with diagnosis target data as input. Each neuralnetwork model may be provided in the form of a classifier and mayclassify input diagnosis target data as a predetermined label. In thiscase, the plurality of neural network models may be provided in forms ofclassifiers that are trained in relation to different characteristics.Each neural network model may classify diagnosis target data asdescribed above in Section 3.4.2.

Meanwhile, a CAM may be obtained from each diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model. The CAM may be obtained selectively. The CAM may beextracted when a predetermined condition is satisfied. For example, whena first diagnosis assistance information indicates that the patient isabnormal in relation to a first characteristic, a first CAM may beobtained from a first diagnosis assistance neural network model.

FIG. 27 is a view for describing a diagnosis assistance processaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 27, a diagnosis assistance process according to anembodiment of the present invention may include obtaining diagnosistarget data (S2011), using a first diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel and a second diagnosis assistance neural network model (S2031 a,S2031 b), and obtaining diagnosis assistance information according todiagnosis target data (S2051). The diagnosis target data may beprocessed data.

The diagnosis assistance process according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may include obtaining a first diagnosis assistanceinformation through the trained first diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model and obtaining a second diagnosis assistance informationthrough the trained second diagnosis assistance neural network model.The first diagnosis assistance neural network model and the seconddiagnosis assistance neural network model may obtain the first diagnosisassistance information and the second diagnosis assistance informationrespectively, on the basis of the same diagnosis target data.

For example, the first diagnosis assistance neural network model and thesecond diagnosis assistance neural network model may respectively obtaina first diagnosis assistance information related to the presenc ofmacular degeneration of the patient and a second diagnosis assistanceinformation related to the presence of diabetic retinopathy of thepatient on the basis of a diagnosis target fundus image.

In addition, unless particularly described otherwise, the diagnosisassistance process described with reference to FIG. 27 may beimplemented similar to the diagnosis assistance process described abovewith reference to FIG. 20.

1.4.4.3 Output of Diagnosis Assistance Information

According to an embodiment of the present invention, diagnosisassistance information may be obtained by a parallel diagnosisassistance process. The obtained diagnosis assistance information may bestored in the diagnostic device, server device, and/or client device.The obtained diagnosis assistance information may be transmitted to anexternal device.

A plurality of diagnosis assistance information may respectivelyindicate a plurality of labels predicted by a plurality of diagnosisassistance neural network models. The plurality of diagnosis assistanceinformation may respectively correspond to the plurality of labelspredicted by the plurality of diagnosis assistance neural networkmodels. Alternatively, diagnosis assistance information may beinformation determined on the basis of a plurality of labels predictedby a plurality of diagnosis assistance neural network models. Thediagnosis assistance information may correspond to the plurality oflabels predicted by the plurality of diagnosis assistance neural networkmodels.

In other words, a first diagnosis assistance information may bediagnosis assistance information corresponding to a first labelpredicted through a first diagnosis assistance neural network model.Alternatively, the first diagnosis assistance information may bediagnosis assistance information determined in consideration of a firstlabel predicted through a first diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel and a second label predicted through a second diagnosis assistanceneural network model.

Meanwhile, CAM images obtained from a plurality of diagnosis assistanceneural network models may be output. The CAM images may be output when apredetermined condition is satisfied. For example, in any one of thecase in which a first diagnosis assistance information indicates thatthe patient is abnormal in relation to a first characteristic or thecase in which a second diagnosis assistance information indicates thatthe patient is abnormal in relation to a second characteristic, a CAMimage obtained from a diagnosis assistance neural network model, fromwhich diagnosis assistance information indicating that the patient isabnormal has been output, may be output.

A plurality of diagnosis assistance information and/or CAM images may beprovided to a user. The plurality of diagnosis assistance information orthe like may be provided to the user through an output means of thediagnostic device or client device. The diagnosis assistance informationmay be visually output. This will be described in detail below inSection “5. User interface.”

According to an embodiment of the present invention, diagnosisassistance information corresponding to a diagnosis target image mayinclude level information. The level information may be selected from aplurality of levels. The level information may be determined on thebasis of a plurality of diagnostic information and/or findingsinformation obtained through neural network models. The levelinformation may be determined in consideration of suitabilityinformation or quality information of a diagnosis target image. Thelevel information may be determined in consideration of a class intowhich a diagnosis target image is classified by a plurality of neuralnetwork models. The level information may be determined in considerationof numerical values output from a plurality of neural network models.

For example, diagnosis assistance information obtained corresponding toa diagnosis target image may include any one level information selectedfrom a first level information and a second level information. When atleast one abnormal findings information or abnormal diagnosticinformation is obtained among of diagnostic information obtained througha plurality of neural network models, the first level information may beselected as the level information. When, of diagnostic informationobtained through the neural network models does not include abnormalfindings information or abnormal diagnostic information, the secondlevel information may be selected as the level information.

A first level information may be selected as the level information whenat least one numerical value among numerical values obtained through aneural network model exceeds a reference numerical value, and a secondlevel information may be selected as the level information when all ofthe obtained numerical values are less than a reference numerical value.The first of level information may indicate that strong abnormalinformation is present in a diagnosis target image compared with thesecond of level information.

A third level information may be selected as the level information whenit is determined using image analysis or a neural network model that thequality of a diagnosis target image is a reference quality or lower.Alternatively, diagnosis assistance information may include the thirdlevel information together with the first or second level information.

When diagnosis assistance information includes the first levelinformation, a first user guide may be output through an output means.The first user guide may include matters corresponding to at least oneof abnormal findings information or abnormal diagnostic informationincluded in diagnosis assistance information. For example, the firstuser guide may indicate that a more precise test is required for apatient corresponding to abnormal information included in diagnosisassistance information. For example, the first user guide may indicatethat secondary diagnosis (for example, diagnosis in a separate medicalinstitution or a hospital transfer procedure) is required for thepatient. Alternatively, the first user guide may indicate treatmentrequired for the patient. As a specific example, when abnormalinformation on macular degeneration of the patient is obtained bydiagnosis assistance information, the first user guide may includeinjection prescription and a guide on a hospital transfer procedure (forexample, a list of hospitals to which transfer is possible) related tothe patient.

When diagnosis assistance information includes the second levelinformation, a second user guide may be output through an output means.The second user guide may include future care plans related to thepatient corresponding to the diagnosis assistance information. Forexample, the second user guide may indicate the time of next visit andthe next medical course.

When diagnosis target information includes the third level information,a third user guide may be output through an output means. The third userguide may indicate that a diagnosis target image has to be retaken. Thethird user guide may include information on the quality of the diagnosistarget image. For example, the third user guide may include informationon an artifact present in a diagnosis target image (for example, whetherthe artifact is a bright artifact or a dark artifact, or the degreethereof).

The first to third of level information may be output by an output unitof the client device or diagnostic device. Specifically, the first tothird level information may be output through a user interface whichwill be described below.

1.4.5 Embodiment 2—Diagnosis Assistance System

A diagnosis assistance system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include a fundus image obtaining unit, a first processingunit, a second processing unit, a third processing unit, and adiagnostic information output unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the diagnosisassistance system may include a diagnostic device. The diagnostic devicemay include a fundus image obtaining unit, a first processing unit, asecond processing unit, a third processing unit, and/or a diagnosticinformation output unit. However, the present invention is not limitedthereto, and each unit included in the diagnosis assistance system maybe disposed at a proper position in a training device, a diagnosticdevice, a training diagnosis server, and/or a client device.Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the case in which adiagnostic device of a diagnosis assistance system includes a fundusimage obtaining unit, a first processing unit, a second processing unit,a third processing unit, and a diagnostic information output unit willbe described.

FIG. 28 is a view for describing a diagnosis assistance system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 28, adiagnosis assistance system may include a diagnostic device, and thediagnostic device may include a fundus image obtaining unit, a firstprocessing unit, a second processing unit, a third processing unit, anda diagnostic information output unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a diagnosisassistance system that assists diagnosis of a plurality of diseases onthe basis of a fundus image may include a fundus image obtaining unitconfigured to obtain a target fundus image which is a basis foracquiring diagnosis assistance information on a patient, a firstprocessing unit configured to, for the target fundus image, obtain afirst result related to a first finding of the patient using a firstneural network model, wherein the first neural network model is trainedon the basis of a first fundus image set, a second processing unitconfigured to, for the target fundus image, obtain a second resultrelated to a second finding of the patient using a second neural networkmodel, wherein the second neural network model is trained on the basisof a second fundus image set which is at least partially different fromthe first fundus image set, a third processing unit configured todetermine, on the basis of the first result and the second result,diagnostic information on the patient, and a diagnostic informationoutput unit configured to provide the determined diagnostic informationto a user. Here, the first finding and the second finding may be usedfor diagnosing different diseases.

The first neural network model may be trained to classify an inputfundus image as any one of a normal label and an abnormal label inrelation to the first finding, and the first processing unit may obtainthe first result by classifying the target fundus image as any one ofthe normal label and the abnormal label using the first neural networkmodel.

The third processing unit may determine whether diagnostic informationaccording to the target fundus image is normal information or abnormalinformation by taking the first result and the second result intoconsideration together.

The third processing unit may determine diagnostic information on thepatient by assigning priority to the abnormal label so that accuracy ofdiagnosis is improved.

When the first label is a normal label related to the first finding, andthe second label is a normal label related to the second finding, thethird processing unit may determine the diagnostic information asnormal. When the first label is not the normal label related to thefirst finding, or the second label is not the normal label related tothe second finding, the third processing unit may determine thediagnostic information as abnormal.

The first finding may be related to an eye disease, and the first resultmay indicate whether the patient is normal in relation to the eyedisease. The second finding may be related to a systemic disease, andthe second result may indicate whether the patient is normal in relationto the systemic disease.

The first finding may be related to a first eye disease, and the firstresult may indicate whether the patient is normal in relation to thefirst eye disease. The second finding may be related to a second eyedisease distinguished from the first eye disease, and the second resultmay indicate whether the patient is normal in relation to the second eyedisease.

The first finding may be a finding for diagnosing a first eye disease,and the first result may indicate whether the patient is normal inrelation to the first eye disease. The second finding may be a findingdistinguished from the first finding for diagnosing the first eyedisease, and the second result may indicate whether the patient isnormal in relation to a second eye disease.

The first neural network model may include a first sub-neural networkmodel and a second sub-neural network model, and the first result may bedetermined by taking a first predicted value predicted by the firstsub-neural network model and a second predicted value predicted by thesecond sub-neural network model into consideration together.

The first processing unit may obtain a CAM related to the first labelthrough the first neural network model, and the diagnostic informationoutput unit may output an image of the CAM.

The diagnostic information output unit may output an image of the CAMwhen the diagnostic information obtained by the third processing unit isabnormal diagnostic information.

The diagnosis assistance system may further include a fourth processingunit configured to obtain quality information on the target fundusimage, and the diagnostic information output unit may output the qualityinformation on the target fundus image obtained by the fourth processingunit.

When it is determined in the fourth processing unit that the qualityinformation on the target fundus image is at a predetermined qualitylevel or lower, the diagnostic information output unit may provideinformation indicating that the quality information on the target fundusimage is at the predetermined quality level or lower together with thedetermined diagnostic information to the user.

1.5 User interface

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the above-describedclient device or diagnostic device may have a display unit for providingdiagnosis assistance information to the user. In this case, the displayunit may be provided to facilitate providing of diagnosis assistanceinformation to the user and obtaining of feedback from the user.

As an example of the display unit, a display configured to providevisual information to the user may be provided. In this case, agraphical user interface for visually transferring diagnosis assistanceinformation to the user may be used. For example, in a fundus diagnosisassistance system that obtains diagnosis assistance information on thebasis of a fundus image, a graphical user interface for effectivelydisplaying obtained diagnosis assistance information and helpingunderstanding of the user may be provided.

FIGS. 29 and 30 are views for describing a graphical user interface forproviding diagnostic information to the user according to someembodiments of the present invention. Hereinafter, some embodiments of auser interface that may be used in a fundus diagnosis assistance systemwill be described with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30.

Referring to FIG. 29, a user interface according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may display identification information of a patientcorresponding to a diagnosis target fundus image. The user interface mayinclude a target image identification information display unit 401configured to display identification information of a patient and/orimaging information (for example, the data and time of imaging) of adiagnosis target fundus image.

The user interface according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay include a fundus image display unit 405 configured to display afundus image of the left eye and a fundus image of the right eye of thesame patient. The fundus image display unit 405 may also display a CAMimage.

The user interface according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay include a diagnostic information indicating unit 403 configured toindicate each of the fundus image of the left eye and the fundus imageof the right eye as the image of the left eye or right eye andconfigured to display diagnostic information on each image and adiagnostic information indicator indicating whether the user hasconfirmed the diagnostic information.

Color of the diagnostic information indicator may be determined inconsideration of diagnosis assistance information obtained on the basisof the target fundus image. The diagnostic information indicator may bedisplayed in a first color or a second color according to the diagnosisassistance information. For example, the diagnostic informationindicator may be displayed in red when first to third diagnosisassistance information are obtained from a single target fundus imageand when any one of the of diagnosis assistance information includesabnormal information (that is, indicates that there are abnormalfindings), and the diagnostic information indicator may be displayed ingreen when all of the of diagnosis assistance information includesnormal information (that is, indicates there are not abnormal findings).

The form of the diagnostic information indicator may be determinedaccording to whether the user has confirmed the diagnostic information.The diagnostic information indicator may be displayed in a first form ora second form according to whether the user has confirmed the diagnosticinformation. For example, referring to FIG. 29, a diagnostic informationindicator corresponding to a target fundus image that has been reviewedby the user may be displayed as a filled circle, and a diagnosticinformation indicator corresponding to a target fundus image that hasnot been reviewed by the user yet may be displayed as a half-circle.

The user interface according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay include a diagnostic information indicating unit 407 configured toindicate diagnosis assistance information. The diagnosis assistanceinformation indicating may be disposed at each of the left eye image andthe right eye image. The diagnosis assistance information indicatingunit may indicate a plurality of findings information or diagnosticinformation.

The diagnosis assistance information indicating unit may include atleast one diagnosis assistance information indicator. The diagnosisassistance information indicator may indicate corresponding diagnosisassistance information through a color change.

For example, when, in relation to a diagnosis target fundus image, afirst diagnosis assistance information indicating the presence of theopacity of crystalline lens is obtained through a first diagnosisassistance neural network model, a second diagnosis assistanceinformation indicating the presence of abnormal findings of diabeticretinopathy is obtained through a second diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model, and a third diagnosis assistance information indicatingthe presence of abnormal findings of the retina is obtained through athird diagnosis assistance neural network model, the diagnosticinformation indicating unit may include first to third diagnosisassistance information indicators configured to respectively indicatethe first diagnosis assistance information, the second diagnosisassistance information, and the third diagnosis assistance information.

As a more specific example, referring to FIG. 29, when, in relation tothe left eye fundus image of the patient, a first diagnosis assistanceinformation indicating that the obtained diagnosis assistanceinformation is abnormal in terms of the opacity of crystalline lens isobtained, a second diagnosis assistance information indicating that theobtained diagnosis assistance information is normal (has no abnormalfindings) in terms of diabetic retinopathy is obtained, and a thirddiagnosis assistance information indicating that the obtained diagnosisassistance information is abnormal (has abnormal findings) in terms ofthe retina is obtained, the diagnostic information indicating unit 407may display a first diagnosis assistance information indicator with afirst color, a second diagnosis assistance information indicator with asecond color, and a third diagnosis assistance information indicatorwith the first color.

The user interface according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay obtain a user comment on a diagnosis target fundus image from theuser. The user interface may include a user comment object 409 and maydisplay a user input window in response to a user selection on the usercomment object. A comment obtained from the user may also be used inupdating a diagnosis assistance neural network model. For example, theuser input window displayed in response to the user's selection on theuser comment object may obtain a user's evaluation on diagnosisassistance information obtained through a neural network, and theobtained user's evaluation may be used in updating a neural networkmodel.

The user interface according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay include a review indicating object 411 configured to display whetherthe user has reviewed each diagnosis target fundus image. The reviewindicating object may receive a user input indicating that the user'sreviewing of each diagnosis target image has been completed, and displaythereof may be changed from a first state to a second state. Referringto FIGS. 29 and 30, upon receiving a user input, the review indicatingobject may be changed from a first state in which a review requestmessage is displayed to a second state indicating that the reviewing hasbeen completed.

A diagnosis target fundus image list 413 may be displayed. In the list,identification information of the patient, the data on which the imagehas been captured, and the indicator 403 of whether the use has reviewedimages of the both eyes may be displayed together.

In the diagnosis target fundus image list 413, a review completionindicator 415 indicating that the corresponding diagnosis target fundusimage has been reviewed may be displayed. The review completionindicator 415 may be displayed when a user selection has been made forreview indicating objects 411 of the both eyes of the correspondingimages.

Referring to FIG. 30, the graphical user interface may include a poorquality warning object 417 indicating that there is an abnormality inthe quality of a diagnosis target fundus image to the user when it isdetermined that there is an abnormality in the quality of the diagnosistarget fundus image. The poor quality warning object 417 may bedisplayed when it is determined that the quality of the diagnosis targetfundus image from the diagnostic unit is below a quality level at whichappropriate diagnosis assistance information may be predicted from adiagnosis assistance neural network model (that is, a reference qualitylevel).

In addition, referring to FIG. 30, the poor quality warning object 419may also be displayed in the diagnosis target fundus image list 413.

2. Assistance of Heart Disease Diagnosis Using Fundus Image

2.1. Outline

According to the present specification, a system, a device, a method,and the like for assisting in heart disease (or cardiovascular diseaseor cerebrovascular disease; heart disease hereinafter) diagnosis using afundus image may be provided. According to the present specification, asystem, a device, a method, and the like for assisting in heart diseasediagnosis that uses a neural network model and obtains diagnosisassistance information, which is helpful in heart disease diagnosis, onthe basis of a fundus image may be provided.

Hereinafter, a system, a device, and a method for providing diagnosisassistance information related to a heart disease in order to assist inheart disease diagnosis using a fundus image will be described. Theheart disease diagnosis assistance will be described below withreference to the foregoing description with reference to FIGS. 1 to 30.

For management of cardiovascular diseases, biomarkers which are useddirectly or indirectly for disease diagnosis may be used. For managementof cardiovascular diseases, a method of managing an extent of risk of adisease in consideration of an index, a score, an indicator, or the like(hereinafter referred to as “score”) related to the disease may be used.For diseases diagnosed in consideration of values such as scores,providing a score instead of the presence or absence of a disease may bemore efficient because it allows a clinician to determine directly apatient's condition or treatment for the patient in consideration of thescore.

The heart disease described herein may refer to cerebrovascular andcardiovascular diseases. The heart disease may refer to diseases relatedto the brain, heart, or blood vessels including a coronary arterydisease such as a heart attack or angina, a coronary heart disease, anischemic heart disease, a congestive heart failure, a peripheralvascular disease, cardiac arrest, a valvular heart disease, acerebrovascular disease (for example, stroke, cerebral infarction,cerebral hemorrhage, or transient ischemic attack), and a renovasculardisease.

The heart disease described herein may accompany complications. Forexample, the heart disease may accompany cardiac arrest, heart failure,stroke, aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease, renal failure, dementia,or skin ulcers as complications. The cardiovascular disease describedherein may also refer to such complications.

According to a diagnosis assistance system, a diagnosis assistancedevice, a diagnosis assistance method, and the like described herein,diagnosis assistance information used in diagnosis of a disease may beprovided. The diagnosis assistance information may include a parametervalue related to a heart disease, a grade indicating an extent of riskof a heart disease, or information on the presence or absence of a heartdisease.

A score which assists in diagnosis of a heart disease may be a scorethat may be measured from a testee or a score that is calculated bycombining values measured from a testee and/or pieces of personalinformation of the testee. A score used in diagnosis of a heart diseasemay be a score proposed by a known cardiovascular/cerebrovasculardisease prediction model. A score which assists in diagnosis of a heartdisease may be an aortic valve calcification index indicating a degreeof aortic valve calcification.

A score which assists in diagnosis of a heart disease may be a coronaryartery calcium score. The score may be an arteriosclerosis risk score. Ascore which assists in diagnosis of a heart disease may be a carotidintima-media thickness (CIMT) value. The score may be Framingham riskscore. A score which assists in diagnosis of a heart disease may be avalue related to at least one factor included in the Framingham riskscore. The score may be the QRISK score. A score which assists indiagnosis of a heart disease may be a value according to atheroscleroticcardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The score may be a score according tothe European Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE).

For example, the coronary artery calcium score may be used as an indexfor determining coronary artery calcification. When the plaque isdeposited in the blood vessels and thus coronary artery calcificationoccurs, the artery narrows and the calcification causes various heartdiseases such as coronary heart disease, cardiac arrest, angina, andischemic heart disease. Accordingly, the coronary artery calcium indexmay be used as the basis for determining an extent of risk of variousheart diseases. For example, when a value of the coronary artery calciumscore is high, the extent of risk of the coronary artery disease may bedetermined to be high.

Particularly, as compared with factors indirectly related to heartdiseases such as a smoking status, age, and gender, the coronary arterycalcium score is directly related to a heart disease, the coronaryartery disease (aortic valve calcification) in particular. Thus, thecoronary artery calcium score may be used as an effective biomarker forheart health.

Also, diagnosis assistance information such as a score which assists indiagnosis of a heart disease may be used as criteria for selecting aspecific medical treatment or prescription target. For example, thecoronary artery calcium score may be used in selecting a subject of aclose examination of coronary artery. In addition, for example, thecoronary artery calcium score may be used in selecting a subject to beprescribed with an anti-hyperlipidemic drug. The coronary artery calciumscore may be used as criteria for prescribing an anti-hyperlipidemicdrug such as statin.

As another example, a Framingham risk score value or a value used forcalculating the Framingham risk score may be obtained and provided asdiagnosis assistance information for determining an extent of risk of acoronary artery disease. For example, the extent of risk of the coronaryartery disease may be determined to be higher as the Framingham riskscore is higher.

As still another example, the CIMT value may be obtained and provided asdiagnosis assistance information for determining an extent of risk ofcerebral infarction or acute myocardial infarction. For example, theextent of risk of cerebral infarction or acute myocardial infarction maybe determined to be higher as the CIMT value is higher.

A grade which assists in diagnosis of a heart disease may be at leastone grade indicating an extent of risk of a heart disease. For example,when a score or the like may be used in diagnosis of a disease, a grademay be used instead of or along with the score or the like.

The diagnosis assistance information may include a heart diseasediagnosis assistance score and/or a heart disease diagnosis assistancegrade. The grade may include a normal grade which indicates that atestee is normal in relation to a target heart disease and an abnormalgrade which indicates that a testee is abnormal in relation to a targetheart disease. Alternatively, the grade may include a plurality ofgrades which indicate an extent of risk of a target heart disease for atestee. This will be described in more detail below in “Method ofassisting in heart disease diagnosis” section.

The score or the like described herein may be used in diagnosis of adisease. The score or the like may be used in diagnosis of a currentstatus of a patient and/or prognosis of a disease. Generating andproviding of diagnosis assistance information including the score or thelike will be described in more detail below in “Diagnosis assistanceinformation” section.

According to the diagnosis assistance system, diagnosis assistancedevice, diagnosis assistance method, and the like described herein,heart disease diagnosis assistance information may be obtained prior todiagnosis of various cardiovascular diseases (for example, a coronaryartery disease). Also, according to an embodiment, the obtained heartdisease diagnosis assistance information may be used in pre-diagnosisfor selecting a subject of a close examination prior to a closeexamination for a heart disease. This will be described in more detailbelow in “Provision of diagnosis assistance information” section.

Hereinafter, although, for convenience, description will be given on thebasis of the case of diagnosis of a cardiovascular disease, the scope ofthe invention disclosed herein is not limited thereto. The diagnosisassistance method, diagnosis assistance device, diagnosis assistancesystem, and the like which will be described below may similarly applyto all cases in which, for assisting in diagnosis of a specific diseasethat may be diagnosed in consideration of a numerical value or a grade,a numerical value or a grade is obtained as diagnosis assistanceinformation related to the corresponding disease from a fundus imageusing a neural network model.

2.2 System and Device for Assisting in Diagnosis of Heart Disease

Hereinafter, a diagnosis assistance system, a diagnosis assistancedevice, and the like for obtaining information on the presence orabsence of a heart disease or information that becomes a basis fordetermining the presence or absence of the heart disease on the basis ofa fundus image will be described. Particularly, a system, a device, andthe like for assisting in diagnosis of a heart disease by constructing aneural network model for predicting heart disease-related informationusing deep learning, training the constructed model, and predictinginformation using the trained model will be described.

2.2.1 System

According to the present specification, a heart disease diagnosisassistance system for obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of a fundus image may be provided. The heartdisease diagnosis assistance system or a device constituting the samemay perform the diagnosis assistance and/or heart disease diagnosisassistance described throughout the present specification.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance system and/or heart diseasediagnosis assistance device and the like disclosed herein may beimplemented similarly as the diagnosis assistance system and/ordiagnosis assistance device described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to9. In other words, the diagnosis assistance system described above withreference to FIGS. 1 to 9 may also be implemented as the heart diseasediagnosis assistance system which will be described below.

For example, the heart disease diagnosis assistance system may include atraining device, a diagnostic device, and a client device, and each ofthe system and devices may operate similarly as the diagnosis assistancesystem described above with reference to FIG. 1. The training device maytrain a neural network model for assisting in heart disease diagnosis,the diagnostic device may perform assistance in heart disease diagnosisusing the trained neural network model, and the client device may obtaina fundus image, obtain heart disease diagnosis assistance informationgenerated on the basis of the fundus image, and provide the diagnosisassistance information to a user.

As another example, the heart disease diagnosis assistance system mayinclude a diagnostic device and a client device. In this case, thediagnostic device may serve as a training device and/or a server device.The diagnostic device and/or the client device may perform theassistance in heart disease diagnosis described herein.

As still another example, the heart disease diagnosis assistance systemmay include a mobile device. The mobile device may perform all or someof operations of the above-described training device, diagnostic device,and/or client device. The mobile device may perform the assistance inheart disease diagnosis described herein.

The configuration and operation of each device will be described in moredetail in “Device” section.

Some examples of an image management system have been described above,but it is apparent from the description related to the diagnosisassistance system given with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 that, even in thecase not described above, the heart disease diagnosis assistance systemmay be similarly configured.

2.2.2 Device

According to the present specification, a diagnosis assistance devicemay be provided. The diagnosis assistance device may include a heartdisease diagnosis assistance unit. The heart disease diagnosisassistance unit may perform the assistance in heart disease diagnosisdescribed herein.

The diagnosis assistance device may obtain heart disease diagnosisassistance information on the basis of a fundus image. The diagnosisassistance device may be one or more devices including a heart diseasediagnosis assistance unit. The diagnosis assistance device may be theabove-described training device, diagnostic device, or client device.The diagnosis assistance device may be a mobile device. The diagnosisassistance device may be a server device. The diagnosis assistancedevice may include a heart disease diagnosis assistance unit configuredto perform the assistance in heart disease diagnosis described herein.The diagnosis assistance device may be included in a device or a unitdescribed herein.

According to the present specification, the diagnosis assistance devices10 and 20 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 and devicesincluded therein may assist in heart disease diagnosis on the basis of afundus image. The diagnosis assistance devices 10 and 20 described abovewith reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 and the devices included therein mayperform an operation related to the heart disease diagnosis assistancein addition to performing the functions described above with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 9. Hereinafter, some examples of a device for assisting inheart disease diagnosis will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to9.

For example, the training device 1000 may assist in heart diseasediagnosis. The training device 1000 may include a heart diseasediagnosis assistance unit configured to assist in heart diseasediagnosis. The heart disease diagnosis assistance unit of the trainingdevice 1000 may train a neural network model which predicts heartdisease diagnosis assistance information on the basis of a fundus image.The heart disease diagnosis assistance unit of the training device 1000may assist in heart disease diagnosis by training the neural networkmodel which predicts heart disease diagnosis assistance information onthe basis of a fundus image.

The training unit 100 of the training device 1000 may serve as the heartdisease diagnosis assistance unit configured to assist in heart diseasediagnosis. The training unit 100 may include a heart disease diagnosisassistance unit. The processor 1050 or the training module 1053 of thetraining device 1000 may serve as the heart disease diagnosis assistanceunit. The processor 1050 or the training module 1053 of the trainingdevice 1000 may include a heart disease diagnosis assistance unit.

The control unit 1200 of the training device 1000 may perform theassistance in heart disease diagnosis described herein. The control unit1200 may include a heart disease diagnosis assistance unit. The memoryunit 1100 (or the volatile memory 1030, the nonvolatile memory 1010, orthe mass storage device 1070) of the training device 1000 may store aneural network model for assisting in heart disease diagnosis. Thecommunication unit 1300 of the training device 1000 may transmit atrained model or information for driving the trained model to anexternal device. Alternatively, the training device 1000 may obtaininformation required for training a neural network model from anexternal device via the communication unit 1300.

As another example, the diagnostic device 2000 may assist in heartdisease diagnosis. The diagnostic device 2000 may include a heartdisease diagnosis assistance unit configured to assist in heart diseasediagnosis. The heart disease diagnosis assistance unit of the diagnosticdevice 2000 may use a trained neural network model to obtain heartdisease diagnosis assistance information related to a target fundusimage. The heart disease diagnosis assistance unit of the diagnosticdevice 2000 may obtain heart disease diagnosis assistance informationusing a neural network model which outputs heart disease diagnosisassistance information on the basis of a fundus image.

The diagnostic unit 200 of the diagnostic device 2000 may serve as aheart disease diagnosis assistance unit configured to assist in heartdisease diagnosis. The diagnostic unit 200 may include a heart diseasediagnosis assistance unit. The processor 2050 or the diagnostic module2053 may serve as a heart disease diagnosis assistance unit. Theprocessor 2050 or the diagnostic module 2053 of the diagnostic device2000 may include a heart disease diagnosis assistance unit.

The control unit 2200 of the diagnostic device 2000 may assist in heartdisease diagnosis using a trained neural network model. The control unit2200 of the diagnostic device 2000 may serve as a heart diseasediagnosis assistance unit. The control unit 2200 of the diagnosticdevice 2000 may include a heart disease diagnosis assistance unit. Thememory unit 2100 of the diagnostic device 2000 may store a trainedneural network model for assistance in heart disease diagnosis. Thememory unit 2100 of the diagnostic device 2000 may include a heartdisease diagnosis assistance unit. The diagnostic device 2000 maycommunicate with an external device using the communication unit 2300.The diagnostic device 2000 may obtain a diagnosis target image from anexternal device or transmit diagnosis assistance information to anexternal device by using the communication unit 2300. The diagnosticdevice 2000 may obtain a trained neural network model or informationrequired for using the trained neural network model from an externaldevice (for example, a training device) by using the communication unit2300.

As still another example, the client device 3000 may assist in heartdisease diagnosis. The client device 3000 may include a heart diseasediagnosis assistance unit configured to assist in heart diseasediagnosis. The heart disease diagnosis assistance unit of the clientdevice 3000 may train a neural network model, obtain diagnosisassistance information using a neural network model, or provide data(for example, fundus images) required for driving the neural networkmodel. The client device 3000 may obtain information required forassisting in heart disease diagnosis from a user or provide heartdisease diagnosis assistance information to the user.

The control unit 3200 of the client device 3000 may include a heartdisease diagnosis assistance unit. The control unit 3200 of the clientdevice 3000 may serve as a heart disease diagnosis assistance unit. Theprocessor of the client device 3000 may include a heart diseasediagnosis assistance unit or perform assistance in heart diseasediagnosis.

As yet another example, a server device 4000 may assist in heart diseasediagnosis. The server device 4000 may include a heart disease diagnosisassistance unit configured to assist in heart disease diagnosis. Theheart disease diagnosis assistance unit of the server device 4000 maystore, train, or drive a neural network model. The server device 4000may store data (for example, fundus image data) required for storing,training, or driving a neural network model which assists in heartdisease diagnosis. The server device 4000 may store user informationused in assisting in heart disease diagnosis.

2.3 Method of Assisting in Heart Disease Diagnosis

2.3.1 Process of Assisting in Heart Disease Diagnosis

Assisting in heart disease diagnosis may include training a heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model using a trainingtarget fundus image and obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of a diagnosis target fundus image by using thetrained heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may be amulti-layer neural network model which outputs a diagnosis assistanceresult related to a heart disease. The heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model may be a convolutional neural networkmodel which obtains diagnosis assistance information on the basis of afundus image.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may beprovided in the above-described ensemble form. For example, the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model may include a firstsub-neural network model which outputs a first result and a secondsub-neural network model which outputs a second result, and obtaineddiagnosis assistance information may be determined in consideration ofboth the first result and the second result. Training of the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model provided in theensemble form or assisting in diagnosis using such a neural networkmodel may be performed similarly as the above description.

Assisting in heart disease diagnosis may be taken into consideration bybeing mainly classified into training a heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model and assisting in diagnosis using thetrained heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model.

The training of the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel may include obtaining training data and training a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model on the basis of the obtainedtraining data.

The obtaining of the training data may include obtaining fundus imagetraining data. The obtained fundus image training data may be fundusimage training data labeled with heart disease diagnosis information.This will be described in more detail below in “Obtaining fundus images”section.

In some cases, the training of the heart disease diagnosis assistancemodel may include converting (or pre-processing) the obtained fundusimage. The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model maybe trained using the converted fundus image. The fundus image may beconverted or pre-processed into a form that is more suitable forobtaining heart disease diagnosis assistance information. This will bedescribed in more detail below in “Fundus image pre-processing” section.

The training of the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel may include multiple repetitions of predicting a result for a unittraining data, comparing the predicted result with a label, and updatinga neural network model. This will be described in more detail below in“Training heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model”section.

The assisting in the heart disease diagnosis using the neural networkmodel may include obtaining a diagnosis target fundus image andobtaining heart disease diagnosis assistance information from thediagnosis target fundus image by using the trained neural network model.

The obtaining of the diagnosis target fundus image may be performed byan imaging unit or may include obtaining an image obtained by imaging bya separate imaging device.

The assisting in the heart disease diagnosis may also includepre-processing a diagnosis target fundus image. In this case, theobtained diagnosis target fundus image may be pre-processed. Theobtaining of the heart disease diagnosis assistance information mayinclude obtaining diagnosis assistance information related to thepre-processed fundus image by using the trained neural network model.This will be described in more detail below in “Fundus imagepre-processing” section.

The pre-processing of the diagnosis target fundus image may includeconverting or pre-processing a diagnosis target fundus image into a formthat is more suitable for obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation. This will be described in more detail below in “Fundusimage pre-processing” section.

The obtaining of the heart disease diagnosis assistance informationusing the trained neural network model may include obtaining diseasepresence/absence information, numerical value information, gradeinformation, and the like that may be used in heart disease diagnosis.This will be described in more detail below in “Assisting in heartdisease diagnosis using neural network model” section.

FIG. 31 is a view for describing an example of a method of assisting inheart disease diagnosis. Referring to FIG. 31, a diagnosis assistanceprocess according to an embodiment of the present invention may includea training process which includes pre-processing an image (S301),training a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model onthe basis of the pre-processed image (S303), and obtaining parameters ofthe trained heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model(S305) and a diagnosis assistance process which includes obtaining andpre-processing a diagnosis target image (S401), driving the trainedheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S403), andobtaining heart disease diagnosis assistance information (S405).

More specifically, the process of training the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model may include a pre-processing step inwhich a fundus image is pre-processed so that prediction accuracy ofheart disease diagnosis information is improved and a training processin which the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model istrained using the pre-processed fundus image. The training process maybe performed by the above-described training device.

The diagnosis assistance process using the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model may include a pre-processing process inwhich an input target fundus image is pre-processed and a diagnosisassistance process in which heart disease diagnosis is assisted usingthe pre-processed fundus image. The diagnosis assistance process may beperformed by the above-described diagnostic device or server device.

Hereinafter, some examples of the training of the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model and diagnosis assistance usingthe heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model will bedescribed. First, image obtaining and conversion (or pre-processing) ofthe image which are common to the training and diagnosis assistanceprocesses will be described, and then details unique to each processwill be described.

2.3.2 Obtaining Fundus Images

A fundus image may be obtained for training of a heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model or for assisting in heart diseasediagnosis using the neural network model.

As described above in “Obtaining image data” section, a fundus image maybe obtained using various devices including a non-mydriatic funduscamera. As described above, the fundus image may be obtained in variousformats including JPG, PNG, and DCM.

Hereinafter, description will be given on the basis of the case in whicha heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model is trained tooutput heart disease diagnosis assistance information on the basis of afundus image and heart disease diagnosis assistance information of atestee is obtained on the basis of a target fundus image.

In the present specification, fundus images used in training of a heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model and obtaining of heartdisease diagnosis assistance information through the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model may be understood as images invarious forms that are obtained by imaging elements of a fundus. Forexample, fundus images may include an optical coherence tomography (OCT)image, an OCT angiography image, or a fundus angiography image. Also,various forms of fundus images described above in “Obtaining image data”section may be used as the fundus images described herein. For example,a panorama fundus image, a wide fundus image, a red-free fundus image,an infrared fundus image, an autofluorescence fundus image, or the likemay be used as the fundus images described herein.

In other words, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel which will be described below may be trained using an OCT image,an OCT angiography image, or a fundus angiography image. Alternatively,the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model which willbe described below may be trained using a panorama fundus image, a widefundus image, a red-free fundus image, an infrared fundus image, anautofluorescence fundus image, or the like.

Also, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model whichwill be described below may output heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of a target OCT image, a target OCT angiographyimage, or a target fundus angiography image obtained from a testee.

In other words, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel which will be described below may be trained using a panoramafundus image, a wide fundus image, a red-free fundus image, an infraredfundus image, and an autofluorescence fundus image.

For example, a fundus image for training a heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model may be obtained.

In a training step, a fundus image may be a fundus image obtained byimaging within a predetermined period from a point in time at whichheart disease diagnosis information is obtained. For example, a fundusimage may be a fundus image obtained by imaging about a year after apatient's heart computerized tomography (CT) is taken to obtain acoronary artery calcium score. The fundus image may be obtained togetherwith heart disease diagnosis information.

The fundus image used in the training step may be a fundus image labeledwith at least one piece of diagnosis assistance information.

The diagnosis assistance information which is labeled on the fundusimage may be disease information which indicates the presence or absenceof a disease. For example, a fundus image may be labeled with coronaryartery disease information which indicates whether a patientcorresponding to the image has a coronary artery disease.

Also, for example, a fundus image may be labeled with normalityinformation which indicates whether a patient is normal in relation to atarget disease (or whether a patient belongs to a risk group for thetarget disease). For example, a fundus image may be labeled with riskinformation which indicates whether a patient belongs to a risk groupfor a coronary artery disease.

Whether the patient belongs to the risk group may have been determinedaccording to a coronary artery calcium score of the patient. Forexample, when the coronary artery calcium score is 10 or lower, thepatient may be determined as belonging to a normal group. A fundus imageobtained by imaging the patient may be labeled with a normal label. Whenthe coronary artery calcium score is 11 or higher, the patient may bedetermined as belonging to a risk group or an abnormal group. A fundusimage obtained by imaging the patient may be labeled with a risk labelor an abnormal label.

The diagnosis assistance information with which the fundus image islabeled may be grade information which indicates a degree of a disease.For example, a fundus image may be labeled with a grade (for example,Grade A to Grade E) which indicates an extent of risk of a coronaryartery disease for a patient corresponding to the image.

The grade indicating a degree of a disease may be provided withreference to a grade system which is generally used in order to indicatean extent of risk of a target disease. For grades indicating a degree ofa disease, the numbers of the grades and/or a numerical value rangeindicated by each grade may be set according to a user's input.

According to an embodiment, a grade indicating a degree of a disease maybe selected from grades generated using a neural network model or analgorithm provided in advance. The grade indicating a degree of adisease may be selected from grades set using a neural network model oran algorithm by taking at least one user input into consideration. In aspecific example, a grade indicating a degree of a disease may bedetermined on the basis of diagnosis assistance information predictedfrom a fundus image by a neural network model and a prescription orgrade classification selected by a user on the basis of the diagnosisassistance information.

The diagnosis assistance information with which the fundus image islabeled may be numerical value information which indicates a degree of adisease. A fundus image may be labeled with a score value used indiagnosis of a target disease. For example, a fundus image may belabeled with a coronary artery calcium score obtained by taking a heartCT of a patient corresponding to the image. For example, a fundus imagemay be labeled with a numerical value, such as 0. 5. 17. 134, or 587, asa coronary artery calcium score of the patient.

FIG. 32 is a view for describing heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation with which a fundus image is labeled. Referring to FIG. 32,as the heart disease diagnosis assistance information with which afundus image is labeled, grade information which indicates an extent ofrisk of a target disease, score information which is used in diagnosisof the target disease, and/or disease presence/absence information (orrisk information) which indicates whether a testee belongs to a riskgroup for the target disease may be matched with each other.

Referring to FIG. 32(a), disease presence/absence information, whichincludes risk information indicating that a testee belongs to a riskgroup for a target disease and normality information indicating that atestee belongs to a normal group, may be matched with numerical values,that is, score information, used in diagnosis of a target disease. As aspecific example, referring to FIG. 32(a), normality information may bematched with score information corresponding to numerical values rangingfrom 0 to 10. Risk information (or abnormality information) may bematched with score information corresponding to numerical values higherthan 10.

Referring to FIG. 32(b), heart disease diagnosis assistance informationmay be selected from Grade A which indicates that a patient is normal,Grade B which indicates that a patient has a mild risk of a target heartdisease, Grade C which indicates that the patient has a moderate risk ofthe target heart disease, Grade D which indicates that the patient has aserious risk of the target heart disease, and Grade E which indicatesthat the patient has a severe risk of the target heart disease.

According to an embodiment, Grade A may indicate that a risk of acoronary artery disease is extremely low. Grade B may indicate that therisk of a coronary artery disease is low. Grade C may indicate that therisk of a coronary artery disease is slight. Alternatively, Grade C mayindicate a slight possibility of coronary artery stenosis. Grade D mayindicate that the risk of a coronary artery disease is high. Grade D mayindicate a strong possibility of coronary artery stenosis. Grade E mayindicate wide-range coronary artery calcification. Grade E may indicatethe possibility of at least one coronary artery stenosis.

Referring to FIG. 32(b), as heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation, grade information including Grade A to Grade E whichindicate an extent of risk of a target disease may be matched with scoreinformation used in diagnosis of the target disease.

For example, a grade label (or grade information) may be matched with ascore range or a score label (or score information). For example, GradeA label may be matched with a score label corresponding to a score(numerical value range) of 0, Grade B label may be matched with a scorelabel corresponding to a score ranging from 1 to 10, Grade C label maybe matched with a score label corresponding to a score ranging from 10to 100, Grade D label may be matched with a score label corresponding toa score ranging from 100 to 400, and Grade E label may be matched with ascore label corresponding to a score of 400 or higher.

For example, a grade label may be determined on the basis of a coronaryartery calcium score measured through a heart CT. Referring to FIG.32(b), when the coronary artery calcium score of a patient is 0, thepatient may be determined as being normal in relation to a coronaryartery disease, and the Grade A label may be determined as a grade labelto be assigned to a fundus image. When the coronary artery calcium scoreof a patient ranges from 1 to 10, the patient may be determined ashaving a mild risk of a coronary artery disease, and the Grade B labelmay be determined as a grade label to be assigned to a fundus image.When the coronary artery calcium score of a patient ranges from 10 to100, the patient may be determined as having a moderate risk of acoronary artery disease, and the Grade C label may be determined as agrade label to be assigned to a fundus image. When the coronary arterycalcium score of a patient ranges from 100 to 400, the patient may bedetermined as having a serious risk of a coronary artery disease, andthe Grade D label may be determined as a grade label to be assigned to afundus image. When the coronary artery calcium score of a patient ishigher than 400, the patient may be determined as having a severe riskof a coronary artery disease, and the Grade E label may be determined asa grade label to be assigned to a fundus image.

Referring to FIGS. 32(a) and 32(b), the disease presence/absenceinformation, grade information, and/or score information may be matchedwith each other. The matching relationship between the pieces of heartdisease diagnosis assistance information described with reference toFIG. 32 may be used in training a neural network model, comparing orproviding pieces of diagnosis assistance information, and the like.

Meanwhile, the grade or disease presence/absence information indicatingan extent of risk may be determined differently according to additionalfactors such as gender and age of a testee. In other words, the matchingrelationship illustrated in FIG. 32 may be determined differentlyaccording to the gender, age, or the like of a testee.

As another example, a target fundus image for heart disease diagnosisusing a neural network model may be obtained. The obtaining of thefundus image may be performed by a client device, an imaging unit, amobile device, or the like. The above description may apply to theobtaining of the fundus image.

A fundus image used in a diagnosis assistance step may be a fundus imageobtained within a predetermined period from a point in time at whichheart disease diagnosis is performed. For example, a target fundus imagewhich is the basis for diagnosis assistance may be an image obtained byimaging about a year after heart disease diagnosis is performed.

In the diagnosis assistance process, the obtained fundus image may be adiagnosis target fundus image. Together with the diagnosis target fundusimage, identification information for identifying a testee or additionalinformation that may be used in diagnosis of a target disease may beobtained. For example, relevant information such as gender, age, andsmoking status of a patient may be obtained together with a targetfundus image.

2.3.3 Fundus Image Reconstruction

A fundus image may be reconstructed for training of a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model or for assistance in heartdisease diagnosis using the neural network model. The reconstruction ofthe fundus image may be performed by the above-described diagnosisassistance system, diagnostic device, client device, mobile device, orserver device. The control unit or processor of each device may performthe reconstruction of the image.

The reconstruction of the fundus image may include modifying the fundusimage to a form in which efficiency of the training of the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model or the assistance in the heartdisease diagnosis using the neural network model may be improved. Forexample, the reconstruction of the image may include blurring the fundusimage or changing chromaticity or saturation of the fundus image.

For example, when the size of a fundus image is reduced or a colorchannel thereof is simplified, since the amount of data that needs to beprocessed by a neural network model is reduced, accuracy of a result ora speed of obtaining a result may be improved.

Various forms of pre-processing or conversion may be applied to a fundusimage. Pre-processing of a fundus image may refer to various forms ofimage processing tasks performed on a fundus image that has beenobtained by imaging. The pre-processing of a fundus image may include atleast some of the image resizing, image pre-processing, imageaugmentation, image serialization, and the like described above in “Dataprocessing process” section.

According to an embodiment, a method of reconstructing a fundus imagemay include performing pre-processing which highlights a region of thefundus image in which blood vessels are distributed. Alternatively, themethod of reconstructing a fundus image may include performingpre-processing which highlights a bleeding region of the fundus image.

The pre-processing which highlights blood vessels may include blurringthe fundus image. The pre-processing which highlights blood vessels mayinclude filtering the fundus image. For example, the pre-processingwhich highlights blood vessels may include applying the Gaussian filterto the fundus image.

The pre-processing which highlights blood vessels may include imagenoise filtering. The pre-processing which highlights blood vessels mayinclude imprinting. The pre-processing which highlights blood vesselsmay include combining and/or optimizing a color space including RGV,La*b*, and HSV. The pre-processing which highlights blood vessels mayinclude any one of histogram stretching, histogram equalization, andhistogram normalization. The highlighting of the blood vessels mayinclude equalizing the image. The equalizing may be performed using theGaussian filter.

The highlighting of the blood vessels may include applying aseparately-provided blood vessel highlighting filter. The blood vesselhighlighting filter may be a filter including some of the various formsof pre-processing described herein.

The highlighting of the blood vessels may include converting a colorspace and highlighting a blood vessel region divided on the basis of aluminance component.

The highlighting of the blood vessels may include expanding and/orcontracting an object. For example, the highlighting of the bloodvessels may include adding a pixel to a boundary of a region in whichblood vessels are distributed or removing a pixel from the boundary.

The highlighting of the blood vessels may include expanding the imageand obtaining a luminance image of the expanded image. The highlightingof the blood vessels may include contracting the image and obtaining aluminance image of the contracted image.

According to an embodiment, reconstructing a fundus image to highlightblood vessels may include blurring the fundus image, applying theGaussian filter to the blurred fundus image, and highlighting (orextracting) blood vessels included in the fundus image to which theGaussian filter is applied. All or some of the above-described processesmay be used in order to highlight or extract the blood vessels.

The reconstructing of the fundus image may include extracting bloodvessels. For example, the reconstructing of the fundus image may includegenerating blood vessel segmentation.

The highlighting of blood vessels may include processing a region inwhich the blood vessels are distributed or processing an extracted bloodvessel image. For example, the highlighting of blood vessels may includechanging color, brightness, and histogram of a region of a fundus imagein which blood vessels are distributed or a blood vessel image extractedfrom the fundus image.

The highlighting of blood vessels may include performing at least one ofthe above-described processes several times.

Meanwhile, the pre-processing which highlights blood vessels may beselectively performed. Whether to use the pre-processing whichhighlights blood vessels may be selected by a user. For example, adevice which performs training of a heart disease diagnosis assistanceneural network model or assistance in heart disease diagnosis using theneural network model may obtain a user input related to whether to usethe pre-processing which highlights blood vessels and may perform oromit the pre-processing which highlights blood vessels according to theuser input.

According to an embodiment, the method of reconstructing a fundus imagemay include performing pre-processing which highlights a region of thefundus image in which optic nerve fibers are distributed. The method ofreconstructing a fundus image may include generating an optic nervefiber extraction image by extracting a region in which optic nervefibers are distributed. The highlighting of the region in which opticnerve fibers are distributed or extracting the optic nerve fibers mayinclude performing pre-processing such as applying the Gaussian filterto the fundus image, blurring the fundus image, converting a histogramof the fundus image, and changing tone of the fundus image.

When a fundus image is used, there is an advantage in that the form ofblood vessels may be observed non-invasively. Therefore, when a fundusimage is used in heart disease diagnosis, assistance information thatmay be used in heart disease diagnosis may be obtained on the basis ofthe form of blood vessels obtained from the fundus image. Accordingly,when, as described herein, a fundus image which is reconstructed so thata blood vessel portion included in the fundus image is highlighted isused, more accurate heart disease diagnosis assistance information maybe obtained.

2.3.4 Training Heart Disease Diagnosis Assistance Neural Network Model

2.3.4.1 Outline of Training Neural Network Model for Heart DiseaseDiagnosis

The above-described diagnosis assistance system, training device, serverdevice, or mobile device may train a heart disease diagnosis assistanceneural network using a fundus image. The training unit, control unit, orprocessor of each device may perform training of a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model. The process of training aneural network model which has been described above with reference toFIGS. 8 and 13 to 17 may apply analogically to the training of the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may betrained using training data including a label. The heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model may be trained using a labeledfundus image.

Hereinafter, on the basis of the description given above with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 30, details unique to the case of training a neuralnetwork model for assisting in heart disease diagnosis will be mainlydescribed.

FIG. 33 is a view for describing a training unit 400 according to anembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 33, the trainingunit 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention may includea queue module 401, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel training module 403, and a training result obtaining module 405.

The queue module 401 may temporarily store fundus image data and supplythe fundus image data to a neural network model. The description givenabove in “Queue” section may similarly apply to the queue module 401.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model trainingmodule 403 may obtain a fundus image, obtain diagnosis assistanceinformation using a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel, compare the obtained diagnosis assistance information with alabel actually assigned to an input image, and update the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model according to a comparisonresult in order to train the heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model.

The training result obtaining module 405 may obtain the trained heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model or parameters of thetrained heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model. Forexample, the training result obtaining module 405 may obtain a weightvalue of a node included in the trained heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model.

FIG. 34 is a view for describing a method of training a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. Referring to FIG. 34, the method of training aheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model according to anembodiment of the present invention may include obtaining a fundus imageand a label (S4011), obtaining diagnosis assistance information usingthe heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S4012),comparing the obtained information with the label and updating the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S4015), and obtaininga training result (S4017).

The obtaining of the fundus image and the label (S4011) may includeobtaining fundus image training data. The obtaining of the fundus imagetraining data may include obtaining a plurality of fundus images andlabels respectively assigned to the fundus images. The obtained fundusimages and labels may be separately managed. The obtained fundus imagesmay be input to a neural network model and used as the basis forobtaining diagnosis assistance information, and the obtained labels maybe compared with the obtained diagnosis assistance information forupdating the neural network model.

The fundus image training data may include a first fundus image, a firstlabel assigned to the first fundus image, a second fundus image, and asecond label assigned to the second fundus image. The first label andthe second label may be of the same type. For example, the first labeland the second label may be numerical value labels or grade labels.

The obtaining of the diagnosis assistance information using the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S4013) may includeobtaining heart disease diagnosis assistance information related to aninput fundus image by using a neural network model provided to outputheart disease diagnosis assistance information on the basis of thefundus image.

The obtained heart disease diagnosis assistance information may be thesame type of information as a label assigned to a fundus image includedin the fundus image training data. For example, when a grade label isassigned to a fundus image for training, a heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model may obtain grade information on thebasis of the fundus image.

Alternatively, the obtained heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation may be a different type of information from a label assignedto a fundus image included in the fundus image training data. Forexample, when a numerical value label is assigned to a fundus image fortraining, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model mayobtain grade information or disease presence/absence information.

The comparing of the obtained information with the label and updating ofthe heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S4015) mayinclude comparing the obtained information with a label assigned to aninput image and updating the heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model. The training of the heart disease diagnosis assistanceneural network model may include comparing the obtained diagnosisassistance information with the label and updating the neural networkmodel on the basis of an error between the obtained diagnosis assistanceinformation and the label. The updating of the neural network model mayinclude updating a weight value assigned to a node of the neural networkmodel by using error back-propagation.

When the obtained information is of the same type as the label includedin the input data, the updating of the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model may include comparing a label assignedto the input fundus image with diagnosis assistance information obtainedon the basis of the corresponding fundus image and updating the neuralnetwork model on the basis of an error between the label and thediagnosis assistance information. For example, when a label assigned toan input fundus image is the Grade B label, and a label obtained by theheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model on the basis ofthe input fundus image is the Grade C label, the neural network modelmay be updated on the basis of a difference in the labels.

When the obtained information is of a different type from the labelincluded in the input data, the updating of the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model may include comparing a label assignedto the input fundus image with diagnosis assistance information obtainedon the basis of the corresponding fundus image and updating the neuralnetwork model on the basis of an error between the label and thediagnosis assistance information. The label assigned to the input fundusimage and the diagnosis assistance information obtained on the basis ofthe corresponding fundus image may be indirectly compared. The labelassigned to the input fundus image and the diagnosis assistanceinformation obtained on the basis of the corresponding fundus image maybe compared on the basis of an inclusion relationship therebetween. Thelabel assigned to the input fundus image and the diagnosis assistanceinformation obtained on the basis of the corresponding fundus image maybe compared on the basis of a matching table. For example, a matchingtable may be provided in the form described above with reference to FIG.32.

For example, when a label assigned to an input fundus image is Grade Aand diagnosis information obtained by a neural network model isnormality information which indicates that a patient is healthy, theneural network model may be determined as having made a correctjudgment, and such determination may be reflected in updating. Also, forexample, when a score label assigned to an input fundus image is 0 anddiagnosis information obtained by a neural network model is Grade Bwhich indicates that a score ranges from 1 to 10, the diagnosisinformation obtained by the neural network model and the label may bedetermined as being different, and such determination may be reflectedin updating.

The obtaining of the fundus image and the label (S4011), the obtainingof the diagnosis assistance information of the fundus image using aheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S4013), and thecomparing of the obtained information with the label and updating of theheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S4015) may berepeatedly performed. The repetition of the updating of the neuralnetwork model may be performed a predetermined number of times. Theupdating of the neural network model may be stopped when accuracy of theneural network model has reached a reference value. The updating of theneural network model may be repeated until a user input is obtained. Theupdating of the neural network model may be performed until trainingdata is used up.

The obtaining of the training result (S4017) may include obtaining atrained heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model. Theobtaining of the training result may include obtaining a value of a nodeincluded in the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model.The obtaining of the training result may include obtaining parameters(for example, weights or bias) of the neural network model. The obtainedtraining result may be transmitted to an external device (for example,the diagnostic device, the server device, the client device, or themobile device).

Accuracy of the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelmay be obtained. The training of the heart disease diagnosis assistanceneural network model may include obtaining accuracy of the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model. The accuracy of the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model may be obtained byperforming verification or a test. Parameters of the neural networkmodel may be changed according to a verification result. Theverification of the neural network model may be performed using averification data set which is differentiated from a training data set.

Meanwhile, the neural network model may also obtain diagnosis assistanceinformation from an input of factors other than a fundus image. Forexample, age, gender, smoking status, the presence or absence ofhyperlipidemia, the presence or absence of hypertension, the presence orabsence of diabetes, and the like may be taken into consideration. Suchadditional factors may be input to the neural network model togetherwith the fundus image or may be used as an input to a second neuralnetwork model together with a feature value obtained by a first neuralnetwork model from the fundus image.

According to an embodiment of the invention described herein, assistingin heart disease diagnosis may be performed using a plurality of neuralnetwork models. In addition to being performed using the plurality ofneural network models in parallel as described below in the presentspecification, assisting in heart disease diagnosis may also beperformed using the plurality of neural network models sequentially,i.e., in series.

According to an embodiment, heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork models may include a primary neural network model which obtainsprimary diagnosis assistance information and a secondary neural networkmodel which obtains secondary diagnosis assistance information. Forexample, a heart disease diagnosis assistance system may include one ormore diagnosis assistance neural network models connected in series.

For example, the one or more diagnosis assistance neural network modelsconnected in series may include a primary neural network model whichobtains primary diagnosis assistance information and a secondary neuralnetwork model which obtains secondary diagnosis assistance informationwith the primary diagnosis assistance information as an input.

The primary neural network model may be trained to obtain the primarydiagnosis assistance information on the basis of a fundus image (and/oradditional information). The secondary neural network model may betrained to obtain the secondary diagnosis assistance information on thebasis of the primary diagnosis assistance information obtained by theprimary neural network model.

As a specific example, the primary neural network model may be trainedto obtain, on the basis of a fundus image of a testee, the probabilitythat the testee has a predetermined heart disease (for example, coronaryartery disease) (or the probability that the testee does not have thepredetermined heart disease). The primary neural network model may betrained to obtain, on the basis of a fundus image, a probability that acoronary calcium score of the testee is larger than 0. In this case, thesecondary neural network model may be trained to predict, on the basisof the probability obtained by the primary neural network model, adiagnosis factor (for example, numerical value information such as acoronary artery calcium score) related to the predetermined heartdisease of the testee. The secondary neural network model may be trainedto obtain a coronary calcium score based on the probability that thecoronary calcium score is larger than 0 regarding the input fundus image

The primary neural network model may be trained on the basis of primarytraining data in which primary diagnosis assistance information isassigned to a fundus image. The secondary neural network model may betrained on the basis of secondary training data in which secondarydiagnosis assistance information is assigned to the primary diagnosisassistance information (or information of the same type and same level).The primary neural network model and the secondary neural network modelmay be trained together. For example, the primary neural network modeland the secondary neural network model may be updated together on thebasis of an error in the secondary diagnosis assistance informationobtained through the secondary neural network model on the basis of theprimary diagnosis assistance information obtained through the primaryneural network model.

For another example, the secondary neural network model may obtain asecondary diagnosis assistance information using a primary diagnosisassistance information acquired via the primary neural network model anda numerical data originated from the testee which is distinguished froma fundus image of the testee. For example, the secondary neural networkmodel may obtain a coronary calcium score of the testee, based on 1) aprobability that the coronary calcium score of the testee is larger than0 via the primary neural network model and 2) a numerical data of thetestee. The numerical data may be a non-visual information obtained fromthe testee. For example, the numerical data may be any one of age data,gender data, smoking data and body weight data. The numerical data maybe obtained from the testee's regular healthcare checkup.

Unless further described otherwise, similar to training of differentneural network models described herein, training of the primary neuralnetwork model and training of the secondary neural network model may beperformed separately or together.

As described herein, diagnosis assistance information having relativelyhigher accuracy may be obtained using the primary neural network modeland the secondary neural network model as compared with when using asingle neural network model. A more precise prediction may be possibleby firstly obtaining primary diagnosis assistance information and thenindirectly obtaining secondary diagnosis assistance information on thebasis of the obtained primary diagnosis assistance information, ratherthan by directly obtaining diagnosis assistance information using asingle neural network model.

The primary neural network model and/or secondary neural network modelmay be selected from various forms of diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork models described herein.

Hereinafter, a method of training a neural network model for obtainingthe presence or absence of a heart disease on the basis of a fundusimage (or a method of selecting a risk group), a method of training aneural network model for obtaining a grade which indicates an extent ofrisk of a heart disease, and a method of training a neural network modelfor obtaining a numerical value (or a score) used in heart diseasediagnosis will be sequentially described in that order.

The following embodiments will be described on the basis of a trainingmethod in which any one of the presence/absence of a disease, a grade,and a numerical value is obtained and a neural network model is updatedon the basis of the obtained information, but the present invention isnot limited thereto. A method in which a neural network model whichobtains two or more of the presence/absence of a disease, grade, andnumerical value separately or together is used and at least one neuralnetwork model is updated on the basis of a result may also be used.

2.3.4.2 Training Risk Group Selection Model

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model which determines whether apatient has a certain heart disease on the basis of a fundus image maybe trained. The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelmay be trained to classify fundus images into two classes related to thepresence/absence of a disease. The training of the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model which determines whether apatient has a certain heart disease may be performed by theabove-described training unit.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may betrained to classify a fundus image as normal or abnormal. The heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model may be trained tooutput any one of abnormality information which indicates that a patienthas a target heart disease and normality information which indicatesthat the patient does not have the target heart disease. The heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model may be trained tooutput any one of risk information which indicates that a patientbelongs to a risk group for a target heart disease and normalityinformation which indicates that the patient does not belong to the riskgroup for the target heart disease. In addition, the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model may be trained as a binaryclassifier which outputs first information or second informationobtained on the basis of an input fundus image as heart diseasediagnosis assistance information.

As a specific example, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may be trained to classify a fundus image into a normalclass which indicates that a testee does not have a target heart diseaseor an abnormal class which indicates that a risk of the target heartdisease for the testee is at a level requiring certain medication (alevel at which benefits from taking medications exceed losses).

For example, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelmay be trained to classify a fundus image into any one of a plurality ofclasses including a first class which indicates that a testee does nothave a coronary artery disease and a second class which indicates thatthe testee has the coronary artery disease and thus taking statins isrecommended.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may betrained using a fundus image training data set which includes aplurality of fundus images to which an abnormal label or a normal labelis assigned. Alternatively, the heart disease diagnosis assistanceneural network model may be trained using a fundus image training dataset which includes a plurality of fundus images to which score labelsare assigned or using a fundus image training data set which includes aplurality of fundus images to which grade labels are assigned.

For example, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelmay be trained using a fundus image training data set which includes aplurality of fundus images to which a first label indicating that atestee does not have a coronary artery disease or a second labelindicating that the testee has the coronary artery disease is assigned.

As another example, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may be trained using a fundus image training data setwhich includes a plurality of fundus images to which a first labelindicating that taking statins (or aspirins) due to a coronary arterydisease is not required for a testee or a second label indicating thattaking statins (or aspirins) due to a coronary artery disease isrequired for the testee is assigned. Alternatively, the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model may also be trained using afundus image training data set which includes a fundus image to whichtwo or more types of labels are assigned. For example, the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model may be trained using a fundusimage training data set which includes a fundus image to which a gradelabel and a disease presence/absence label are assigned together or afundus image to which a grade label and a score label are assignedtogether.

Hereinafter, a method of training a heart disease diagnosis assistanceneural network model for obtaining binarily-classified information asheart disease diagnosis assistance information will be described.

FIG. 35 is a view for describing a method of training a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. Referring to FIG. 35, a method of training aneural network model for assisting in heart disease diagnosis mayinclude obtaining a fundus image and a disease presence/absence labelassigned to the fundus image (S4021), obtaining heart diseasepresence/absence information using the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model (S4023), comparing the obtainedinformation with the label and updating the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model (S4025), and obtaining a training resultof the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S4027).

The obtaining of the fundus image and the disease presence/absence labelassigned to the fundus image (S4021) may include obtaining fundus imagetraining data which includes the fundus image to which the diseasepresence/absence label is assigned. The fundus image and the diseasepresence/absence label included in the fundus image training data may beseparately managed. For example, the obtained fundus image may be usedas an input to the neural network model, and the obtained label may beused in updating the neural network model. The obtained fundus imagetraining data may also include a fundus image to which a grade label ora score label is assigned in addition to the disease presence/absencelabel.

The fundus image training data may include a first fundus image to whicha normal label, which indicates that a patient is normal in relation toa target heart disease, is assigned and a second fundus image to whichan abnormal label which indicates that a patient is abnormal in relationto the target heart disease (or a risk label which indicates that apatient belongs to a risk group for the target heart disease) isassigned.

The obtaining of the fundus image and the disease presence/absence labelassigned to the fundus image (S4021) may include obtaining fundus imagetraining data which includes a fundus image to which a label other thanthe disease presence/absence label (for example, a grade label or ascore label) is assigned.

The obtaining of the heart disease presence/absence information usingthe heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S4023) mayinclude obtaining heart disease presence/absence information related toan input fundus image by using a neural network model provided to outputheart disease presence/absence information on the basis of a fundusimage.

The comparing of the obtained information with the label and updating ofthe heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S4025) mayinclude comparing the obtained heart disease presence/absenceinformation with the label assigned to the input fundus image andupdating the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model.The training of the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel may include updating parameters of the neural network model usingerror back-propagation.

When a label included in training data used in training of the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model which obtains diseasepresence/absence information is a disease presence/absence label, theheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may be updatedusing a result of comparing the obtained disease presence/absenceinformation and the disease presence/absence label. For example, whendiagnosis assistance information obtained on the basis of an inputfundus image from a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel is abnormality information and a label assigned to the inputfundus image is an abnormality label, the neural network model may beupdated on the basis of difference between the obtained information andthe assigned label.

When the label included in the training data used in the training of theheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model which obtainsdisease presence/absence information is not the disease presence/absencelabel, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model maybe updated using a result of comparing the obtained diseasepresence/absence information with the label. For example, when the labelincluded in the training data is a grade label or a score label, theheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may be updatedin consideration of whether the obtained disease presence/absenceinformation matches the grade or score label included in the trainingdata.

The comparison between the label and the obtained information may beperformed in consideration of predetermined criteria. For example, acomparison between an input label and obtained information may beperformed using the table illustrated in FIG. 32.

For example, when a label assigned to a fundus image included intraining data is a grade label which indicates an extent-of-risk gradeamong a plurality of extent-of-risk grades to which a patientcorresponds, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelmay be updated by determining whether the obtained diseasepresence/absence information matches the grade label assigned to theinput fundus image. When the grade label assigned to the input fundusimage is Grade A which indicates that a patient belongs to a normalgroup and the obtained diagnosis assistance information is abnormalityinformation which indicates that the patient is abnormal, the neuralnetwork model may be updated on the basis of an error between theoutputs.

The obtaining of the training result of the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model (S4027) may include obtaining the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model which is trained tobinarily classify a fundus image as normal or abnormal. The obtaining ofthe training result may include obtaining parameters of the neuralnetwork model trained to binarily classify fundus image data.

According to an embodiment, risk group screening heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network models may include a primary neural networkmodel which obtains primary diagnosis assistance information and asecondary neural network model which obtains secondary diagnosisassistance information connected in series with the primary neuralnetwork model.

For example, a primary neural network model which is trained to obtain,on the basis of a fundus image and/or additional information of atestee, the probability that the testee has a target heart disease and asecond neural network model which is trained to obtain, on the basis ofthe probability that the testee has the target heart disease that hasbeen obtained through the primary neural network model, the probabilitythat the testee belongs to a risk group for the target heart disease maybe used together.

For more specific example, a primary neural network model which istrained to obtain, on the basis of a fundus image and/or additionalinformation of a testee, the probability that a coronary calcium scoreof the testee is larger than 0, and a second neural network model whichis trained to obtain, on the basis of the probability that that thecoronary calcium score of the testee is larger than 0 that has beenobtained through the primary neural network model, the probability thatthe testee belongs to a risk group for a coronary calcium disease may beused together.

2.3.4.3 Training Grade Determination Model

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model which obtains gradeinformation indicating an extent of risk of a certain heart disease fora patient on the basis of a fundus image may be trained. The heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model may be trained toclassify fundus images into a plurality of classes corresponding to aplurality of grades. The training of the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model obtaining the grade information may beperformed by the above-described training unit.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may betrained to classify fundus images into a plurality of grades. The heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model may be trained toclassify fundus images into a plurality of grades which indicate extentsof risk of a target disease for a patient. The heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model may be trained to classify fundus imagesinto three classes corresponding to a first grade, a second grade, and athird grade which indicate extents of risk of a target disease for apatient. For example, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may be trained to classify fundus images into threeclasses corresponding to a first grade which indicates that a patientbelongs to a normal group, a second grade which indicates that thepatient belongs to a moderate risk group, and a third grade whichindicates that the patient belongs to a severe risk group.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model which assists in determiningwhether to prescribe medical practice related to a heart disease on thebasis of a fundus image may be trained.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model according toan embodiment may be trained as a binary neural network model whichclassifies a plurality of fundus images into two classes distinguishedaccording to the need of specific medical practice for a testee. Forexample, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model maybe trained to classify a fundus image into a first class which indicatesthat specific medical practice is required or a second class whichindicates that the specific medical practice is not required.

Also, for example, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel may be trained to classify a fundus image into a first class whichindicates that specific medical practice is required soon (e.g.,immediately), a second class which indicates that the specific medicalpractice is required within a predetermined period (e.g., within threeyears), or a third class which indicates that the specific medicalpractice is not required.

The specific medical practice may be medical treatment or prescriptionrelated to angina, coronary artery disease, heart attack, myocardialinfarction, heart failure, arteriosclerosis, arrhythmia, cerebralhemorrhage, cerebral infarction, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia,hypertension, and the like.

The specific medical practice may include a drug therapy or a non-drugtherapy recommended for improving a target disease of a testee.

The specific medical practice may be administration of a specificmedicine or drug or prescription thereof. For example, the specificmedical practice may be prescription of one or more of drugs based onstatins (which include various drugs such as simvastatin, atorvastatin,rosuvastatin), which are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, aspirin, bileacid sequestrant, nicotinic acid, omega-3 fatty acid, ezetimibe, andfibrate.

The specific medical practice may be changed according to a condition ofa testee and/or a target disease. For example, when the target diseaseis hypercholesterolemia, the specific medical practice may beprescription for taking a statin drug and another medicine (for example,ezetimibe, nicotinic acid, or bile acid sequestrant). When the targetdisease is hypertriglyceridemia, the specific medical practice may beprescription for taking a statin drug and nicotinic acid or fibrate.When a testee is diabetic and a target disease is hyperlipidemia, thespecific medical practice may be prescription for taking a statin drugor taking a statin drug and nicotinic acid or fibrate.

For example, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelmay be trained to classify a plurality of fundus images into a firstclass indicating that taking statin or aspirin drugs is not required fora testee or a second class indicating that taking the statin or aspirindrugs is required for the testee. The first class may be treatedsimilarly as the first grade described herein. The second class may betreated similarly as the second grade described herein.

For example, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelmay be trained to classify a plurality of fundus images into a firstclass indicating that a risk of a predetermined disease (for example,coronary artery disease) for a testee is insignificant and thus taking astatin (or aspirin) drug is not recommended for the testee or a secondclass indicating that a risk of the predetermined disease for the testeeis significant and thus taking the statin (or aspirin) drug isrecommended for the testee.

As a specific example, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may be trained to classify a plurality of fundus imagesinto a first class indicating that a specific score value (for example,coronary artery calcification score value) is less than a referencevalue indicating that taking a statin drug is required or a second classindicating that the specific score value is greater than the referencevalue indicating that taking the statin drug is required.

Also, for example, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel may be trained to classify a plurality of fundus images into afirst class indicating that taking a statin (or aspirin) drug) is notrequired for a testee, a second class indicating that whether taking astatin drug is required for the testee is unclear (for example, a targetgroup for which an additional diagnostic checkup is required), or athird class indicating that taking a statin drug is required for thetestee (for example, a target group for which the need of an additionaldiagnostic checkup is low and certain benefits are expected when aspirinis taken). The first to third classes may be treated similarly as thefirst to third grades described herein.

As a specific example, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may classify a plurality of fundus images into a firstclass indicating that a specific score value related to taking a statin(or aspirin) drug is less than a first reference value, a second glassindicating that a specific score value related to taking statin isgreater than the first reference value and less than a second referencevalue, or a third class indicating that a specific score value relatedto taking statin is greater than the second reference value. Forexample, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model mayclassify a plurality of fundus images into a first class indicating thata coronary artery calcification score value is less than a firstreference value (for example, 20), a second class indicating that thecoronary artery calcification score value is greater than the firstreference value (for example, 20) and less than a second reference value(for example, 100), or a third class indicating that the coronary arterycalcification score value is greater than the second reference value(for example, 100). Also, for example, a heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model may classify a plurality of fundusimages into a first class indicating that prescription of a statin drugis not required, a second class indicating that primary prescription ofstatin is recommended, and a third class indicating that secondaryprescription of the statin (for example, prescription of a larger amountof statin than the primary prescription of statin or prescriptionincluding an additional medicine) is recommended.

As a specific example, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may classify a plurality of fundus images into a firstclass indicating that a 10-year ASCVD risk is less than a firstreference value (for example, 5%), a second glass indicating that the10-year ASCVD risk is greater than the first reference value (forexample, 5%) and less than a second reference value (for example, 7.5%),a third class indicating that the 10-year ASCVD risk is greater than thesecond reference value (for example, 7.5%) and less than a thirdreference value (for example, 20%), and a fourth class indicating thatthe 10-year ASCVD risk is greater than the third reference value (forexample, 20%). The first to fourth classes may each correspond todifferent pieces of prescription information related to taking statin.For example, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelmay classify a plurality of fundus images into a first class indicatingthat taking a statin drug is not recommended, a second class indicatingthat whether taking the statin drug is recommended is required to bedetermined also in consideration of another factor (for example, acoronary artery calcification score), a third class indicating thatprescription of a statin drug is required at a moderate level, and afourth class indicating that prescription of a statin drug is requiredat a severe level.

The specific score values in the above embodiments may be values ofvarious scores, indices, or factors for evaluating a risk of a heartdisease that are described herein.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may betrained using a fundus image training data set which includes aplurality of fundus images to which grade labels are assigned. Forexample, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model maybe trained using a training data set which includes a plurality offundus images to which the first grade, the second grade, or the thirdgrade is assigned. Alternatively, the heart disease diagnosis assistanceneural network model may also be trained using a fundus image trainingdata set which includes a plurality of fundus images to which a scorelabel or a disease presence/absence label is assigned.

Alternatively, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel may be trained using training data which includes a fundus imageto which two or more types of labels are assigned together, such as afundus image training data set which includes a fundus image to which agrade label and a disease presence/absence label are assigned togetheror a fundus image to which a grade label and a score label are assignedtogether.

Alternatively, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelaccording to an embodiment may be trained using a fundus image trainingdata set which includes a label related to specific prescription and afundus image.

For example, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelmay be trained using a fundus image training data set which includes aprescription label related to whether taking a statin drug is requiredand a fundus image. As a specific example, the fundus image trainingdata set may be a fundus image training data set which includes aplurality of pieces of fundus image data to which a first labelindicating that taking the statin drug is not required or a second labelindicating that taking the statin drug is required is assigned.

Also, for example, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel may be trained to determine, on the basis of a fundus image of atestee, whether prescription of a statin drug is required, by using atraining data set which includes a plurality of fundus images to which afirst label indicating that prescription of a statin drug is requiredsoon (e.g., immediately), a second label indicating that theprescription of the statin drug is highly expected to be required withina predetermined period (e.g., within three years), or a third labelindicating that the prescription of the statin drug is not required.

A heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may be trainedusing a fundus image training data set which further includes pieces ofinformation on factors related to target prescription. For example, theheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may be trainedto obtain prescription information related to taking a statin drug, byusing a fundus image training data set which includes fundus images towhich prescription labels, which are related to taking the statin drug,and pieces of information on factors (for example, a family medicalhistory, presence of diabetes, renal function, complications ofdiabetes, whether aspirin is taken, degree of obesity, weight, height,smoking status, gender, and the like), which are related to dyslipidemiawhose symptoms may be alleviated by the statin drug, are assigned.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model trained todetermine a grade on the basis of a fundus image may be provided in theform of a multiclass classifier which classifies a plurality of fundusimages into a plurality of classes. Alternatively, the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model may also be provided in theform including at least one binary classifier which classifies aplurality of fundus images into two classes.

For example, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelmay include a first binary classification neural network model whichclassifies a plurality of fundus images into two classes correspondingto normality information and risk information and a second binaryclassification neural network model which classifies a plurality offundus images into two classes corresponding to low risk information andhigh risk information. In this case, the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model may classify fundus images which areclassified as normality information by the first binary classificationneural network model as a first grade which indicates that a patient isnormal, may classify fundus images which are classified as high riskinformation by the second binary classification neural network model asa third grade which indicates that the patient corresponds to a highrisk group, and may classify images which are not classified as eitherthe first grade or the third grade as a second grade which indicatesthat the patient corresponds to a moderate risk group.

Meanwhile, according to another embodiment, for predicting a graderelated to a target disease for a testee, grade determination modelsincluding a primary neural network model and a secondary neural networkmodel may be trained.

For example, a primary neural network model may be trained to obtain, onthe basis of a fundus image of a testee and/or additional information,the probability that the testee has a target heart disease or anumerical value related to the target heart disease for the testee (forexample, a coronary artery calcium score related to a coronary arterydisease). Also, a secondary neural network model may be trained toclassify testees into a plurality of classes or grades related a targetheart disease, with output information of the primary neural networkmodel as an input.

For example, for determining a grade of risk of a coronary arterydisease for a testee, a first neural network model may be trained toobtain, on the basis of a fundus image of a testee, the probability thatthe testee has the coronary artery disease, and a second neural networkmodel may be trained to determine, on the basis of the probability thatthe testee has the coronary artery disease, the grade of risk of thecoronary artery disease for the testee.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of a method of training a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model for obtaining gradeinformation as heart disease diagnosis assistance information will bedescribed.

FIG. 36 is a view for describing a method of training a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. Referring to FIG. 36, a method of training aneural network model for assisting in heart disease diagnosis mayinclude obtaining a fundus image and a label assigned to the fundusimage (S4031), obtaining grade information using the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model (S4033), comparing the gradeinformation with the label and updating the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model (S4035), and obtaining a training resultof the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S4037).

The obtaining of the fundus image and the label assigned to the fundusimage (S4031) may include obtaining a fundus image training data setwhich includes a fundus image to which a grade label is assigned. Thefundus image and the grade label included in the fundus image trainingdata set may be separately managed. The fundus image may be used as aninput to the neural network model, and the grade label may be used inupdating the neural network model. The obtained fundus image trainingdata set may also include a fundus image to which a diseasepresence/absence label or a score label is assigned in addition to thegrade label.

The fundus image training data may include a first fundus image to whicha first label, which indicates that a patient belongs to a normal groupfor a target heart disease, is assigned, a second fundus image to whicha second label, which indicates that the patient belongs to a moderaterisk group for the target heart disease, is assigned, and a third fundusimage to which a third label, which indicates that the patient belongsto a severe risk group for the target heart disease, is assigned.

The obtaining of the fundus image and the label assigned to the fundusimage may include obtaining a fundus image training data set whichincludes a fundus image to which a label other than the grade label (forexample, a disease presence/absence label or a score label) is assigned.

The obtaining of the grade information using the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model (S4033) may include obtaining gradeinformation related to an input fundus image by using a neural networkmodel provided to classify fundus images into a plurality of classescorresponding to a plurality of grades related to a target heartdisease.

The comparing of the grade information with the label and updating ofthe heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S4035) mayinclude comparing the obtained grade information with the label assignedto the input fundus image and updating the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model. The training of the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model may include updatingparameters of the neural network model using error back-propagation.

When a label included in training data used in training of the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model which obtains gradeinformation is a grade label, the heart disease diagnosis assistanceneural network model may be updated using a result of comparing theobtained grade information and the input grade label. For example, whendiagnosis assistance information obtained from the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model is first grade information anda label assigned to the input fundus image is a second grade label, theneural network model may be updated on the basis of discordance betweenthe obtained information and the assigned label.

When the label included in the training data used in the training of theheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model which obtainsgrade information is not the grade label, the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model may be updated using a result ofcomparing the obtained grade information with the assigned label. Forexample, when the label included in the training data is a diseasepresence/absence label or a score label, the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model may be updated in consideration ofwhether the obtained grade information matches the diseasepresence/absence label or score label included in the training data. Forexample, when the label included in the training data is a prescriptionlabel, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model maybe updated in consideration of whether prescription information obtainedfrom the neural network model matches the prescription label included inthe training data.

In this case, whether the obtained diagnosis assistance informationmatches the assigned label may be determined using a matching tableexemplified herein (for example, the table illustrated in FIG. 32).

For example, when the label included in the training data is a coronaryartery calcium score of a patient, the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model may be updated in consideration ofwhether the obtained grade information matches the coronary arterycalcium score of the patient. For example, when the label assigned tothe input fundus image is a coronary artery calcium score label whichindicates a value of 17 and the grade information obtained on the basisof the input fundus image is the first grade information indicating thatthe patient is normal, it can be seen that the score and the grade donot match, and the neural network model may be updated on the basis ofsuch discordance.

The obtaining of the training result of the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model (S4037) may include obtaining a heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model which is trained toclassify fundus images into a plurality of grades or parameters of sucha neural network model.

2.3.4.4 Training Score Prediction Model

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model which obtains a patient'sscore related to a certain heart disease on the basis of a fundus imagemay be trained. The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel may be trained to predict a score used in heart disease diagnosison the basis of a fundus image. The training of the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model which obtains a score may beperformed by the above-described training unit.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may betrained to predict a diagnosis assistance score corresponding to afundus image. The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel may be trained to predict a value of a specific parameter relatedto a target heart disease of a patient. The heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model may be trained to predict a score thatmay be used in diagnosing whether a patient has a target heart disease.For example, the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelmay be trained to predict at least one of values of at least one factorfor calculating any one of a coronary artery calcium score, anarteriosclerosis risk score, a CIMT value, an ankle-brachial index, ablood vessel stiffness test (pulse wave velocity analysis), 24-hourHolter monitoring, a Framingham risk score, a QRISK score, a valueaccording to an extent of risk of an ASCVD within ten years, a scoreaccording to race- and sex-specific Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE), theJoint British Societies recommendations on the prevention ofCardiovascular Disease (JBS3) risk score value, a score according to theSCORE, and the above-listed scores.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may betrained to predict a score on the basis of an input fundus image. Thescore may be predicted as a real number value. The score may also bepredicted as an integer value. The score may also be predicted as apositive value.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may betrained using a fundus image training data set which includes a fundusimage to which a score label is assigned. For example, the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model may be trained using fundusimage training data set which includes a fundus image to which acoronary artery calcium score label is assigned.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may betrained using a fundus image training data set which includes a fundusimage to which a label other than the score label (for example, adisease presence/absence label or a grade label) is assigned. The heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model may be trained usingfundus image training data set which includes a fundus image to which ascore label and a label other than the score label is assigned together.

The neural network model which is trained to predict a score on thebasis of a fundus image may be trained in the form of a linearregression model which outputs continuous values. Alternatively, theheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model maysimultaneously include a linear regression neural network model whichpredicts a score and a classifier model which outputs grade or diseasepresence/absence information.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of a method of training a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model which obtains scoreinformation as heart disease diagnosis assistance information will bedescribed.

FIG. 37 is a view for describing a method of training a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. Referring to FIG. 37, a method of training aneural network model for assisting in heart disease diagnosis mayinclude obtaining a fundus image and a label assigned to the fundusimage (S4041), predicting score information using the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model (S4043), comparing aprediction result with the label and updating the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model (S4045), and obtaining atraining result of the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel (S4047).

The obtaining of the fundus image and the label assigned to the fundusimage (S4041) may include obtaining fundus image training data whichincludes a fundus image to which a score label is assigned. The fundusimage and the label may be separately managed. The fundus image trainingdata may include a fundus image to which a score label and a label otherthan the score label, for example, a grade label or a diseasepresence/absence label, are assigned together.

The fundus image training data may include fundus image data to which ascore label, which indicates a patient's coronary artery calcium scorefor heart disease diagnosis, is assigned. The fundus image training datamay include a fundus image to which a score label, which indicates apatient's coronary artery calcium score, and a grade label, whichindicates the patient's extent of risk of a coronary artery disease thatis determined according to the patient's coronary artery calcium score,is assigned.

The fundus image training data may include fundus image data to which alabel other than the score label is assigned. The fundus image trainingdata may include fundus image data to which a grade label or a diseasepresence/absence label is assigned.

The predicting of the score information using the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model (S4043) may include obtainingscore information related to an input fundus image by using a neuralnetwork model provided to obtain heart disease diagnosis assistancescore information corresponding to a fundus image on the basis of thefundus image. The neural network model may also obtain score informationand information other than the score information together. The neuralnetwork model may obtain grade information or disease presence/absenceinformation together with the score information.

The comparing of the prediction result with the label and updating ofthe heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S4045) mayinclude comparing the obtained score information with the label assignedto the input fundus image and updating the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model.

When a label included in training data used in training of the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model is a score label, thetraining of the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelmay include comparing a score label assigned to an input fundus imagewith score information according to the input fundus image that ispredicted by a neural network model and updating the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model on the basis of a result ofthe comparison.

The training of the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel may include comparing the score label and the predicted scoreinformation in consideration of ranges thereof. The training of theheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may includecomparing the score label and the predicted score by using a pluralityof ranges, or grades which are provided in advance to classify scoresaccording to values thereof. For example, the training of the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model may include updatingthe neural network model by determining that a prediction of the neuralnetwork model is correct when the obtained score belongs to the samerange as the score that the label indicates and determining that aprediction of the neural network model is incorrect when the obtainedscore belongs to a different range from the score that the labelindicates.

The training of the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel may be performed in consideration of an error range. For example,when a difference between a predicted score value and a score value of alabel is within an error range, the prediction may be determined to becorrect, and the neural network model may be updated accordingly.

When the label included in the training data used in the training of theheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model is a grade labelor a disease presence/absence label, the training of the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model may include comparing a labelassigned to an input fundus image and score information according to theinput fundus image that is predicted by a neural network model andupdating the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model onthe basis of a result of the comparison. In other words, the training ofthe heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may beperformed by determining whether the score information and the non-scorelabel match each other. For example, the training of the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model may be performed inconsideration of whether the score information predicted by the neuralnetwork model matches grade information or disease presence/absenceinformation assigned to the input fundus image.

The obtaining of the training result of the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model (S4047) may include obtaining the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model trained on the basisof the fundus image or parameters of such a neural network model.

According to an embodiment, score prediction models including a primaryneural network model and a secondary neural network model, which areconnected to each other in series, may be trained.

For example, score prediction models including a primary neural networkmodel which obtains, on the basis of a fundus image of a testee, primarydiagnosis assistance information related to a target heart disease forthe testee and a secondary neural network model which obtains, on thebasis of the primary diagnosis assistance information, score informationrelated to the target heart disease as secondary diagnosis assistanceinformation may be trained.

For example, when the target heart disease is a coronary artery disease,the primary diagnosis assistance information may be the probability thatthe testee has the coronary artery disease or the probability that thetestee does not have the coronary artery disease. In this case, as thesecondary diagnosis assistance information, the score informationrelated to the target heart disease may be a coronary artery calciumscore. That is, the lower the probability that a testee is normal (thehigher the probability that the testee is abnormal) with regards to aheart disease, the higher the heart disease-related score (the risk ofthe heart disease). On the basis of this, a neural network model forpredicting an extent of risk of a heart disease, a calcium score, or thelike may be constructed and used.

For more specific example, when the target heart disease is a coronaryartery disease, the primary diagnosis assistance information may be theprobability that the coronary calcium score of the testee is larger than0. In this case, the secondary neural network model may be trained tooutput coronary calcium score (or range thereof) based on theprobability that the coronary calcium score of the testee is larger than0.

The primary neural network model may be trained on the basis of primarytraining data. For example, the primary neural network model may betrained on the basis of primary training data which includes a pluralityof fundus images to which a label indicating the probability related towhether a testee has a coronary artery disease is assigned. Thesecondary neural network model may be trained on the basis of secondarytraining data which includes a plurality of pieces of information on theprobability that a coronary artery calcium score will correspond to alabeled coronary artery disease.

2.3.5 Assisting in Heart Disease Diagnosis Using Neural Network Model

2.3.5.1 Outline of Heart Disease Diagnosis

Heart disease diagnosis may be assisted using a trained heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model. In other words, heart diseasediagnosis may be assisted by obtaining diagnosis assistance information,which is useful in the heart disease diagnosis, by using a trained heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model.

The above-described diagnostic device, client device, mobile device, orserver device may obtain diagnosis assistance information on the basisof a fundus image of a patient. The diagnostic unit, control unit, orprocessor of each device may obtain diagnosis assistance informationaccording to a target fundus image by using a heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model.

Hereinafter, on the basis of the description given above with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 30, details unique to a method of assisting in heartdisease diagnosis using a trained neural network model will bedescribed.

FIG. 38 is a view for describing a diagnostic unit 500 according to anembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 38, thediagnostic unit 500 according to an embodiment of the present inventionmay include a diagnosis request obtaining module 501, a heart diseasediagnosis assistance module 503, and a diagnosis assistance informationoutput module 505. The diagnostic unit 500 and each of the modulesillustrated in FIG. 38 are merely illustrative on the basis of a logicalconfiguration, and the diagnostic unit 500 and each of the modules maybe included in at least one of the various devices described herein orother devices.

The diagnosis request obtaining module 501 may obtain a diagnosisrequest from an external device or a user. The diagnosis requestobtaining module 501 may obtain a diagnosis request including adiagnosis target fundus image. The diagnosis request obtaining module501 may obtain a diagnosis request including diagnosis assistanceinformation identifying information for identifying requested diagnosisassistance information.

The diagnosis request obtaining module 501 may obtain a diagnosisrequest and start a diagnosis assistance information obtaining process.The diagnosis request obtaining module 501 may obtain a diagnosisrequest and then obtain a fundus image, may obtain a diagnosis requestincluding a fundus image, or may obtain a fundus image and then obtain adiagnosis request.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance module 503 may obtain diagnosisassistance information using a trained heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model. The heart disease diagnosis assistancemodule 503 may obtain diagnosis assistance information when a diagnosisassistance request is obtained. The heart disease diagnosis assistancemodule 503 may obtain a target fundus image and obtain heart diseasediagnosis assistance information from a neural network model on thebasis of the target fundus image. The heart disease diagnosis assistancemodule 503 may obtain a trained neural network model or parameters ofthe trained neural network model and use the obtained neural networkmodel or parameters thereof to obtain diagnosis assistance informationaccording to the target fundus image. The heart disease diagnosisassistance module 503 may obtain a target fundus image and obtaindisease presence/absence information, grade information, or scoreinformation for heart disease diagnosis.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance module 503 may further obtainadditional information (in other words, secondary diagnosis assistanceinformation) other than primary heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation directly output from a neural network model. For example,the heart disease diagnosis assistance module 503 may obtain instructioninformation, prescription information or the like which will bedescribed below. Also, for example, the heart disease diagnosisassistance module may obtain diagnosis assistance information related toa disease other than a target disease or a class activation map (CAM)image corresponding to the output diagnosis assistance information. Theclass activation map in this description can be construed as includingsimilar or expanded concepts which refer to indicate relationshipbetween locations in the image and the prediction result. For example,the class activation map may be a Saliency map, a heat map, a featuremap or a probability map, which provide information in relationshipbetween pixels in the image and the prediction result.

The diagnosis assistance information output module 505 may obtaindiagnosis assistance information from the heart disease diagnosisassistance module. The diagnosis assistance information output module505 may output diagnosis assistance information related to a heartdisease. The diagnosis assistance information output module may transmitdiagnosis assistance information to an external device or an externalmodule. The diagnosis assistance information may be provided to a uservia a user interface or the like.

FIG. 39 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 39, a method of assisting in heart disease diagnosis accordingto an embodiment of the present invention may include obtaining adiagnosis request (S5011), obtaining diagnosis assistance informationusing a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S5013),and outputting the diagnosis assistance information (S5015).

The obtaining of the diagnosis assistance information using the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S5013) may beconfigured differently according to the type of target diagnosisassistance information (that is, diagnosis assistance information to beobtained). For example, a heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model used in obtaining diagnosis assistance information may bedetermined according to the type of target diagnosis assistanceinformation.

The obtaining of the diagnosis assistance information using the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S5013) may includeprocessing diagnosis assistance information obtained via the heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model. In other words, theobtaining of the diagnosis assistance information may further includeobtaining primary diagnosis assistance information directly obtained viathe neural network model and/or secondary diagnosis assistanceinformation obtained on the basis of the primary diagnosis assistanceinformation.

The outputting of the diagnosis assistance information (S5015) mayinclude outputting diagnosis assistance information in the formrecognizable by a user. The outputting of the diagnosis assistanceinformation may include outputting diagnosis assistance information inthe form of visual or aural data. The outputting of the diagnosisassistance information may be configured differently according to thetype of the output diagnosis assistance information. For example, thediagnosis assistance information may be output differently according tothe type thereof

FIG. 40 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 40, a method of assisting in heart disease diagnosis accordingto an embodiment of the present invention may include obtaining a targetfundus image (S310), obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation of a testee (S330), and outputting the heart diseasediagnosis assistance information of the testee (S350).

The obtaining of the target fundus image (S310) may include obtaining atarget fundus image which is obtained by imaging a fundus of a testee.

The obtaining of the heart disease diagnosis assistance information ofthe testee (S330) may include, on the basis of the target fundus image,obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistance information of the testeeaccording to the target fundus image, via a heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model which obtains diagnosis assistanceinformation used in diagnosis of a target heart disease according to afundus image.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance information may include at leastone of grade information which includes a grade selected from aplurality of grades indicating an extent of risk of a target heartdisease, score information which is numerical value information fordetermining an extent of risk of a target heart disease, and riskinformation which indicates whether a testee belongs to a risk group fora target heart disease.

The obtaining of the heart disease diagnosis assistance information ofthe testee (S330) may further include obtaining a CAM related to theheart disease diagnosis assistance information according to the targetfundus image.

The details described with reference to FIGS. 47 and 48 may applyanalogically to an output of the CAM, feature map or other form ofsaliency map.

The outputting of the heart disease diagnosis assistance information ofthe testee (S350) may further include outputting a heart diseasediagnosis assistance feature map which is generated on the basis of theCAM related to the heart disease diagnosis assistance information and isprovided in the form corresponding to the target fundus image toindicate a feature region related to the heart disease diagnosisassistance information.

The outputting of the heart disease diagnosis assistance information ofthe testee (S350) may include outputting the target fundus image and theheart disease diagnosis assistance feature map to superimpose eachother.

The outputting of the heart disease diagnosis assistance information ofthe testee (S350) may further include outputting instruction informationdetermined on the basis of the heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation of the testee. In this case, the instruction information maybe determined using a pre-stored heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation-instruction information relationship. For example, theinstruction information may be determined using a matching table inwhich instruction information is matched according to heart diseasediagnosis assistance information. The instruction information may bedetermined according to the heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation-instruction information relationship provided in advance,and the heart disease diagnosis assistance information-instructioninformation relationship may include a medical treatment method possiblefor a testee corresponding to the heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation.

According to an embodiment, the method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis may be performed by a device configured to assist in diagnosisof an eye disease. For example, the method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis may further include, on the basis of the target fundus image,obtaining eye disease diagnosis assistance information of the testeeaccording to the target fundus image, via a heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model which obtains eye disease diagnosisassistance information according to a fundus image.

FIG. 41 is a view for describing the method of assisting in heartdisease diagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 41, the method of assisting in heart disease diagnosisaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may further includereconstructing the target fundus image (S320).

The reconstructing of the target fundus image (S320) may includereconstructing the target fundus image so that a blood vessel elementincluded in the target fundus image is highlighted in order tofacilitate diagnosis of a target heart disease. In this case, theobtaining of the heart disease diagnosis assistance information of thetestee (S330) may include obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation of the testee on the basis of the reconstructed targetfundus image, and various pre-processing or reconstruction methodsdescribed herein may be applied to the reconstruction of the fundusimage.

For example, the reconstructing of the target fundus image (S320) mayinclude performing, on the target fundus image, pre-processing whichhighlights a region included in the target fundus image in which bloodvessels are distributed. Alternatively, the reconstructing of the targetfundus image (S320) may include extracting a region included in thetarget fundus image in which blood vessels are distributed.

The target heart disease may be a coronary artery disease.

The grade information may be coronary artery disease risk gradeinformation which indicates an extent of risk of a coronary arterydisease, the score information may be coronary artery calcium scoreinformation used in diagnosis of a coronary artery disease, and the riskinformation may be coronary artery disease risk information whichindicates whether the testee belongs to a risk group for a coronaryartery disease.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may betrained to output heart disease diagnosis assistance information on thebasis of a fundus image by using fundus image training data whichincludes a plurality of fundus images to which diagnosis assistanceinformation labels are assigned.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, as a method forassisting in diagnosis of a target heart disease using a fundus image, amethod of assisting in heart disease diagnosis which includes obtaininga target fundus image which is obtained by imaging a fundus of a testee,on the basis of a reconstructed target fundus image which is obtained byperforming reconstruction to highlight blood vessel elements in thetarget fundus image, obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation of the testee via a heart disease diagnosis assistanceneural network model which obtains heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of a fundus image, and outputting the heartdisease diagnosis assistance information of the testee may be provided.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may betrained using fundus image training data which includes a plurality offundus images in which blood vessel elements are highlighted and heartdisease diagnosis assistance labels assigned to the plurality of fundusimages.

The target heart disease may be a coronary artery disease, and the heartdisease diagnosis assistance information may include at least one ofgrade information which includes a grade selected among a plurality ofgrades indicating an extent of risk of the target heart disease, scoreinformation which is numerical value information for determining anextent of risk of the target heart disease, and risk information whichindicates whether a testee belongs to a risk group for the target heartdisease.

The grade information may be coronary artery disease risk gradeinformation which indicates an extent of risk of a coronary arterydisease, the score information may be coronary artery calcium scoreinformation used in diagnosis of a coronary artery disease, and the riskinformation may be coronary artery disease risk information whichindicates whether the testee belongs to a risk group for a coronaryartery disease.

The outputting of the heart disease diagnosis assistance information ofthe testee may further include outputting instruction informationobtained on the basis of the heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation. The instruction information may be determined according tothe heart disease diagnosis assistance information-instructioninformation relationship provided in advance, and the heart diseasediagnosis assistance information-instruction information relationshipmay include a medical treatment method possible for the testeecorresponding to the heart disease diagnosis assistance information.

The method of assisting in heart disease diagnosis may further include,on the basis of the target fundus image, obtaining eye disease diagnosisassistance information of the testee according to the target fundusimage via a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelwhich obtains eye disease diagnosis assistance information according toa fundus image.

The above-described method of assisting in heart disease diagnosisaccording to some embodiments may be provided in the form of acomputer-readable recording medium in which a program for executing themethod is recorded.

FIG. 42 is a view for describing a heart disease diagnosis assistancedevice 5000 according to an embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 42, the heart disease diagnosis assistance device 5000according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a fundusimage obtaining unit 5100, a heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation obtaining unit 5300, and a heart disease diagnosisassistance information output unit 5500.

Referring to FIG. 42, the heart disease diagnosis assistance device 5000for assisting in diagnosis of a target heart disease using a fundusimage according to an embodiment of the present invention may include afundus image obtaining unit configured to obtain a target fundus imageby imaging a fundus of a testee, a heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation obtaining unit configured to, on the basis of the targetfundus image, obtain heart disease diagnosis assistance information of atestee according to the target fundus image via a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model which obtains diagnosisassistance information used in diagnosis of the target heart diseaseaccording to a fundus image, and a heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation output unit configured to output the obtained heart diseasediagnosis assistance information.

In this case, the heart disease diagnosis assistance information mayinclude at least one of grade information which includes a gradeselected among a plurality of grades indicating an extent of risk of atarget heart disease, score information which is numerical valueinformation for determining an extent of risk of a target heart disease,and risk information which indicates whether a testee belongs to a riskgroup for a target heart disease.

The target heart disease may be a coronary artery disease. In this case,the grade information may be coronary artery disease risk gradeinformation which indicates an extent of risk of a coronary arterydisease, the score information may be coronary artery calcium scoreinformation used in diagnosis of a coronary artery disease, and the riskinformation may be coronary artery disease risk information whichindicates whether a testee belongs to a risk group for a coronary arterydisease.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance information obtaining unit 5300may obtain a CAM related to heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit 5500 mayoutput a heart disease diagnosis assistance feature map which isprovided in the form corresponding to a target fundus image to indicatea feature region related to the heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit 5500 mayoutput instruction information which is based on the heart diseasediagnosis assistance information of the testee and is determined usingthe pre-stored heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation-instruction information relationship.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance device 5000 may further includean eye disease diagnosis assistance information obtaining unitconfigured to, on the basis of the target fundus image, obtain eyedisease diagnosis assistance information of the testee according to thetarget fundus image via a heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model which obtains eye disease diagnosis assistance informationaccording to a fundus image.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit 5500 mayoutput eye disease diagnosis assistance information.

FIG. 43 is a view for describing a heart disease diagnosis assistancedevice 5001 according to another embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 43, the heart disease diagnosis assistance device 5001according to another embodiment of the present invention may include afundus image obtaining unit 5101, a heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation obtaining unit 5301, and a heart disease diagnosisassistance information output unit 5501 and may further include a fundusimage reconstruction unit 5701 or an eye disease diagnosis assistanceinformation obtaining unit 5901.

For example, the heart disease diagnosis assistance device 5001 mayfurther include the fundus image reconstruction unit 5701 configured toreconstruct the target fundus image so that a blood vessel elementincluded in the target fundus image is highlighted in order tofacilitate diagnosis of a target heart disease. In this case, the heartdisease diagnosis assistance information obtaining unit may obtain heartdisease diagnosis assistance information of the testee on the basis ofthe reconstructed target fundus image.

According to an embodiment, a heart disease diagnosis assistance devicemay obtain heart disease diagnosis assistance information using a heartdisease neural network model including a primary neural network modelwhich obtains a primary diagnosis assistance information and a secondaryneural network model which is connected in series to the primary neuralnetwork model and obtains a secondary diagnosis assistance informationat least partly based on the primary diagnosis assistance information.The heart disease diagnosis assistance device may obtain the primarydiagnosis assistance information and/or the secondary diagnosisassistance information using the primary neural network model and thesecondary neural network model.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of various cases in which diagnosisassistance information is obtained on the basis of a target fundus imagewill be described.

2.3.5.2 Risk Group Selection Using Neural Network Model

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method ofassisting in heart disease diagnosis using a heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model which is trained to obtain diseasepresence/absence information related to a certain heart disease (or toselect a risk group for the heart disease) on the basis of a fundusimage may be provided. The method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis which will be described below may be performed by thediagnostic unit, control unit, or processor described herein.

FIG. 44 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 44, a method of assisting in heart disease diagnosis accordingto an embodiment of the present invention may include obtaining adiagnosis request (S5021), obtaining disease presence/absenceinformation using a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel (S5023), and outputting diagnosis assistance information (S5025).

The obtaining of the diagnosis request (S5021) may include obtaining adiagnosis target fundus image (hereinafter referred to as “target fundusimage”). The obtaining of the diagnosis request may include obtaininginformation on diagnosis assistance information to be obtained(obtainment target diagnosis assistance information).

The diagnosis request may be data that requests for a start of adiagnosis assistance process. The diagnosis request may be data whichincludes information on a target heart disease and requests fordiagnosis assistance information related to the target heart disease.The diagnosis request may be data that requests for diseasepresence/absence information related to whether a patient belongs to arisk group for a target disease. For example, the diagnosis request mayinclude a target fundus image and identification information of thetarget diagnosis assistance information.

For example, a diagnosis request obtaining module may obtain a targetfundus image and a diagnosis request (or a diagnosis assistance request)that requests for diagnosis (or diagnosis assistance) related to acoronary artery disease on the basis of the target fundus image. Also,for example, a diagnostic unit may obtain a diagnosis request made by auser via a user input unit or obtain a diagnosis request from anexternal device via a communication unit.

For example, the diagnosis request obtaining module may obtain adiagnosis request that requests for diagnosis assistance informationrelated to the presence of a target disease according to a target fundusimage and/or the need for administration (or medication) related to thetarget disease.

The obtaining of the disease presence/absence information using theheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S5023) mayinclude obtaining disease presence/absence information on the basis of adiagnosis assistance request that requests for disease presence/absenceinformation. The obtaining of the disease presence/absence informationmay include obtaining disease presence/absence information on the basisof a diagnosis assistance request that requests for diagnosis assistancerelated to a target heart disease.

For example, a heart disease diagnosis assistance module may, on thebasis of the target fundus image, obtain disease presence/absenceinformation or the disease presence/absence information and otherinformation by using a neural network model which obtains diseasepresence/absence information indicating whether a patient has a coronaryartery disease. Also, for example, a diagnostic unit may obtaininformation on the presence or absence of a target heart disease relatedto a fundus image from a neural network model via a control unit or aprocessor.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance module may further obtaininformation inferred on the basis of the information on the presence orabsence of the target disease. For example, the heart disease diagnosisassistance module may further obtain, on the basis of a predeterminedcorrelation or in consideration of an input value other than the fundusimage as well as the fundus image, an extent of risk of a disease otherthan the target heart disease.

According to an embodiment, a heart disease diagnosis assistance devicemay obtain secondary diagnosis assistance information using a heartdisease neural network model including a primary neural network modelwhich obtains a primary diagnosis assistance information(for example, aprobability that a testee has a target heart disease) and a secondaryneural network model which is connected in series to the primary neuralnetwork model and obtains a secondary diagnosis assistanceinformation(for example, a probability that a testee belongs to a riskgroup for a target heart disease) at least partly based on the primarydiagnosis assistance information. The outputting of the diagnosisassistance information (S5025) may further include outputting diseasepresence/absence information related to the target heart disease. Theoutputting of the diagnosis assistance information may further includeoutputting the disease presence/absence information on the target heartdisease and other information thereon together. For example, theoutputting of the diagnosis assistance information may includeoutputting the disease presence/absence information and informationinferred using the disease presence/absence information together.

For example, the diagnosis assistance information output module mayoutput the disease presence/absence information on the target heartdisease. The diagnosis assistance information output module may outputthe disease presence/absence information on the target heart disease andother information thereon. The diagnosis assistance information outputmodule may transmit the disease presence/absence information to anexternal device or output the disease presence/absence information inthe form recognizable by a user. Also, for example, the diagnostic unitmay transmit diagnosis assistance information including diseasepresence/absence information to the display unit or the output unit sothat the disease presence/absence information is provided to the user.

2.3.5.3 Grade Determination Using Neural Network Model

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method ofassisting in heart disease diagnosis using a heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model which is trained to obtain gradeinformation indicating an extent of risk of a certain heart disease onthe basis of a fundus image may be provided. The method of assisting inheart disease diagnosis which will be described below may be performedby the diagnostic unit, control unit, or processor described herein.

FIG. 45 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 45, a method of assisting in heart disease diagnosis accordingto an embodiment of the present invention may include obtaining adiagnosis request (S5031), obtaining grade information using a heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S5033), andoutputting diagnosis assistance information (S5035).

The obtaining of the diagnosis request (S5031) may include obtaining atarget fundus image. The details described above in relation to riskgroup selection may similarly apply to the obtaining of the diagnosisrequest.

The obtaining of the diagnosis request (S5031) may include obtaining adiagnosis request which includes a diagnosis target fundus image andinformation on a target heart disease. The obtaining of the diagnosisrequest (S5031) may include obtaining a diagnosis request that requestsfor grade information related to a target heart disease of a patient.The obtaining of the diagnosis request (S5031) may include obtaining adiagnosis request that requests for grade information and otherinformation.

For example, the diagnosis request obtaining module may obtain a targetfundus image and a diagnosis request that request for diagnosisassistance information of a coronary artery disease according to thetarget fundus image. The diagnosis request obtaining module may obtain adiagnosis request that requests for prescription information related toa cardiovascular disease according to a target fundus image. Thediagnostic unit may obtain a diagnosis request related to the targetfundus image via a user input unit, a user interface, or the like.

The obtaining of the grade information using the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model (S5033) may include, when a diagnosisrequest that requests for grade information is obtained, obtaining gradeinformation on a target heart disease from the target fundus image byusing the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model. Theobtaining of the grade information may include identifying a gradeinformation request included in the diagnosis request and obtaininggrade information related to the target heart disease in response to thediagnosis request that requests for the grade information.

For example, the heart disease diagnosis assistance module may, on thebasis of the target fundus image, obtain grade information or the gradeinformation and other information by using a neural network model whichobtains grade information indicating an extent of risk of a coronaryartery disease for a patient. Also, for example, the diagnostic unit mayobtain grade information of the target heart disease related to a fundusimage from a neural network model via a control unit or a processor.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance module may further obtaininformation inferred on the basis of the grade information of the targetdisease. For example, the heart disease diagnosis assistance module mayfurther obtain, on the basis of a predetermined correlation or inconsideration of an input value other than the fundus image as well asthe fundus image, an extent of risk of a disease other than the targetheart disease. The heart disease diagnosis assistance module may obtaingrade information and prescription information related to a targetdisease together with each other. The prescription information may beobtained on the basis of a matching table in which grades andprescriptions are matched and stored.

Also, for example, the heart disease diagnosis assistance module mayobtain prescription information using a neural network model whichobtains, on the basis of a target fundus image, prescription informationrelated a heart disease condition of a patient. The heart diseasediagnosis assistance module may obtain prescription information relatedto whether taking a statin drug is required for the patient, by using aneural network model which obtains, on the basis of a target fundusimage (a fundus image received as an input), prescription informationrelated to specific medical practice, e.g., the need of prescription fortaking the statin drug.

According to an embodiment, a heart(cardiovascular) disease diagnosisassistance device may obtain heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation using a heart disease neural network model including aprimary neural network model which obtains a primary diagnosisassistance information(for example, a probability that the testee has atarget disease) and a secondary neural network model which is connectedin series to the primary neural network model and obtains a secondarydiagnosis assistance information(for example, a grade informationrelated to the target disease for the testee or a prescriptioninformation indication whether taking statin is required for the testee)at least partly based on the primary diagnosis assistance information.

The outputting of the diagnosis assistance information (S5035) mayfurther include outputting grade information related to the target heartdisease. The outputting of the diagnosis assistance information (S5035)may further include outputting the grade information on the target heartdisease and other information thereon together. For example, theoutputting of the diagnosis assistance information may includeoutputting the grade information and information inferred using thegrade information together.

For example, the diagnosis assistance information output module mayoutput the grade information on the target heart disease. The diagnosisassistance information output module may output the grade information onthe target heart disease and other information thereon. The diagnosisassistance information output module may transmit the grade informationto an external device or output the grade information in the formrecognizable by a user. Also, for example, the diagnostic unit maytransmit diagnosis assistance information including grade information tothe display unit or the output unit so that the grade information isprovided to the user.

2.3.5.4 Score Prediction of Numerical Prediction Neural Network Model

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method ofassisting in heart disease diagnosis using a heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model which is trained to obtain a scorerelated to a certain heart disease on the basis of a fundus image may beprovided. The method of assisting in heart disease diagnosis which willbe described below may be performed by the diagnostic unit, controlunit, or processor described herein.

FIG. 46 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 46, a method of assisting in heart disease diagnosis accordingto an embodiment of the present invention may include obtaining adiagnosis request (S5041), obtaining score information using a heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model (S5043), andoutputting diagnosis assistance information (S5045).

The obtaining of the diagnosis request (S5041) may include obtaining atarget fundus image. The details described above in relation to riskgroup selection may similarly apply to the obtaining of the diagnosisrequest.

The obtaining of the diagnosis request (S5041) may include obtaining adiagnosis request which includes a diagnosis target fundus image andinformation on a target heart disease. The obtaining of the diagnosisrequest (S5041) may include obtaining a diagnosis request that requestsfor score information related to a target heart disease of a patient orobtaining a diagnosis request that requests for score information andother information.

For example, the diagnosis request obtaining module may obtain adiagnosis request that requests for a target fundus image and a coronaryartery calcium score according to the target fundus image.

The obtaining of the score information using the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model (S5043) may include, when a diagnosisrequest that requests for score information is obtained, obtaining scoreinformation on a target heart disease from the target fundus image byusing the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model. Theobtaining of the score information may include obtaining a scoreinformation request included in the diagnosis request and obtaining therequested score information.

For example, the heart disease diagnosis assistance module may use theheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model and, on thebasis of the target fundus image, obtain a coronary artery calcium scorefor determining an extent of risk of a coronary artery disease for apatient. Also, for example, the diagnostic unit may obtain heart diseasediagnosis assistance score information of the target heart diseaserelated to a fundus image from a neural network model via a control unitor a processor.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance module may further obtainadditional information related to the score information or additionaldiagnosis assistance information which is obtained in consideration ofan input value other than the fundus image as well as the fundus image.

According to an embodiment, using the heart(or cardiovascular) diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model, the heart disease diagnosisassistance module may obtain, as a score related to a heart diseaseaccording to a target fundus image, at least one of values of at leastone factor for calculating any one of a coronary artery calcium score,an arteriosclerosis risk score, a CIMT(Carotid Intima-Media Thickness)value, a Framingham risk score, a QRISK score, a value according to anextent of risk of an ASCVD, a score according to the SCORE, a scoreaccording to a Score from Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network(ASSIGN), and the above-listed scores. According to an embodiment, theheart disease diagnosis assistance module may obtain a score value fordetermining the need of predetermined medical practice for treating atarget disease, by using a heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model. For example, using the heart disease diagnosis assistanceneural network model, the heart disease diagnosis assistance module mayobtain a score value (for example, an ASCVD risk score value) fordetermining the need of prescription of a statin drug for a testee.

According to an embodiment, the heart disease diagnosis assistancemodule may obtain heart disease diagnosis assistance information with anadditional data related to the testee other than the fundus image as aninput value together with the fundus image. For example, the heartdisease diagnosis assistance module may obtain heart disease diagnosisassistance information based on a testee's cholesterol level,triglyceride level, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level,high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level, very-low-densityliproprotein (VDL) cholesterol level, gender, age and/or gender and thefundus image, as input data together with the fundus image.

According to an embodiment, a heart(cardiovascular) disease diagnosisassistance device may obtain heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation using a heart disease neural network model including aprimary neural network model which obtains a primary diagnosisassistance information(for example, the probability that the testee hasa coronary artery disease) and a secondary neural network model which isconnected in series to the primary neural network model and obtains asecondary diagnosis assistance information(for example, a coronaryartery calcium score of a testee) at least partly based on the primarydiagnosis assistance information.

The outputting of the diagnosis assistance information (S5045) mayinclude outputting score information related to the target heart diseaseand/or other information (for example, diagnosis assistance informationon another disease or grade or disease presence/absence information onthe target heart disease). The diagnosis assistance information outputmodule or the diagnostic unit may output score information and/or otherinformation related to the target heart disease.

2.3.6 Output of Diagnosis Assistance Information

Heart disease diagnosis assistance information obtained via a heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model may be output. Theheart disease diagnosis assistance information may be provided to auser. The client device, mobile device, diagnostic device, output unit,or the like described herein may output the heart disease diagnosisassistance information in the form recognizable by the user.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance information may be output in theform of visual and/or aural data. The heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation may be output via a user interface. For example, the heartdisease diagnosis assistance information may be output via the userinterface described above with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance information may be output to anexternal device. For example, the diagnostic device, server device,diagnostic unit, or the like may transmit the obtained heart diseasediagnosis assistance information to an external device via wired orwireless communication. Alternatively, the heart disease diagnosisassistance information may be stored in a memory or a server.

Secondary information obtained from diagnosis assistance informationobtained via a neural network model may be output. The secondaryinformation obtained from the diagnosis assistance information may beinformation for assisting in diagnosis of a heart disease or the like inmore detail. For example, the secondary information obtained from thediagnosis assistance information may be implemented using prescriptioninformation, instruction information, prediction information, or thelike which will be described below.

The diagnosis assistance information described herein may be understoodas encompassing primary diagnosis assistance information obtained via aneural network model and/or secondary diagnosis assistance informationobtained from the primary diagnosis assistance information.

Prescription information may be obtained on the basis of diagnosisassistance information. For example, the prescription information mayinclude a type of drug to be administered to a user, a period in whichthe drug is administered to the user, a dosage of the drug, or the like.For example, the prescription information may include prescriptioninformation on an anti-hyperlipidemic drug. The prescription informationmay include information on drugs, with which a testee may be prescribedin relation to a target heart disease, such as an anti-hyperlipidemicdrug, an antihypertensive drug, and an antithrombotic drug. For example,the prescription information may include administration informationrelated to whether administration is required for a testee, an amount ofadministration, a period of administration, or the like for drugs basedon statins (which include various drugs such as simvastatin,atorvastatin, rosuvastatin), which are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors,bile acid sequestrant, nicotinic acid, and the like.

The prescription information may be pre-stored to match diagnosisassistance information. The prescription information may be determinedusing a database in which prescription behaviors of a user according todiagnosis assistance information are stored. For example, prescriptioninformation related to administration of statin may be obtained using adatabase in which risk grades related to hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia,and the like are matched to the needs of administration of statinaccording to each grade.

According to an embodiment, when diagnosis assistance information isscore information for determining an extent of risk of a cardiovasculardisease, prescription information may be obtained as secondaryinformation related to the score information. For example, whendiagnosis assistance information is an ASCVD risk score or a scoreaccording to the SCORE for determining whether one has dyslipidemia, afirst piece of prescription information indicating that the need oftaking statin is low for a testee may be obtained when the obtainedscore is less than a reference value, and a second piece of prescriptioninformation indicating that the need of taking statin is high for thetestee may be obtained when the obtained score is greater than thereference value.

According to an embodiment, when obtained diagnosis information is acoronary artery calcification score (CACs), prescription informationthat recommends that a testee take a statin drug may be obtainedaccording to a predetermined guideline when the CACs exceeds a referencevalue (for example, 100), and prescription information that postponestaking the statin drug may be obtained when the CACs is less than thereference value.

The prescription information may be obtained via a neural network modelwhich is trained using training data including prescription behaviorinformation of a user according to diagnosis assistance information. Asa specific example, a prescription assistance neural network model whichis trained to obtain prescription data input from a user in response toan output of diagnosis assistance information, obtain prescriptioninformation training data in which a prescription data label is assignedto diagnosis assistance information, and output prescription informationby using the obtained prescription information training data with thediagnosis assistance information as an input may be provided. Theprescription information obtained using the prescription assistanceneural network model may be provided to the user together with orseparately from the diagnosis assistance information. For example, inresponse to obtaining diagnosis assistance information (for example,grade information or score information) through the diagnosis assistanceinformation obtaining module, a diagnostic device may obtainprescription data related to a predetermined medicine (for example,statin) provided by a user and obtain training data including an inputfundus image to which the prescription data is labeled.

Instruction information obtained on the basis of diagnosis assistanceinformation may be output. The instruction information may includeinformation on a medical treatment method. For example, instructioninformation for providing at least one candidate action that is expectedto be suitable for a user or patient on the basis of the diagnosisassistance information may be obtained. The instruction information mayinstruct an action such as additionally-required checkups, the time offollow-up visit, suggestions of hospitals that a user may considertransferring to, recommended surgery or treatment, and the like. Theinstruction information may be pre-stored to match diagnosis assistanceinformation. The instruction information may be determined using adatabase in which instruction behaviors of a user according to diagnosisassistance information are stored.

For example, the instruction information may include managementguideline information related to a target heart disease such asrecommended lifestyle and exercise prescription for a testee.

Also, for example, the instruction information may include additionalcheckup information indicating types of recommended in-depth medicalcheckups. For example, when obtained diagnosis information indicatesthat the need of taking statin is unclear for a testee (e.g., when scoreinformation is greater than a first reference value and less than asecond reference value or when a target fundus image is classified intoa second grade among first to third grades), the diagnostic device mayobtain and/or output instruction information that recommends a coronaryartery CT scan (or an ankle-brachial index), a blood vessel stiffnesstest (pulse wave velocity analysis), 24-hour Holter monitoring, and thelike.

The instruction information may be obtained via a neural network modelwhich is trained using training data including instruction behaviorinformation according to diagnosis assistance information. As a specificexample, an instruction assistance neural network model which is trainedto obtain instruction data input from a user in response to diagnosisassistance information being provided to the user, obtain instructioninformation training data in which an instruction data label is assignedto diagnosis assistance information, and output instruction informationby using the obtained instruction information training data with thediagnosis assistance information as an input may be provided. Theinstruction information obtained using the instruction assistance neuralnetwork model may be provided to the user together with or separatelyfrom the diagnosis assistance information.

Prediction information obtained on the basis of diagnosis assistanceinformation may be output. The prediction information may includeinformation on prognosis related to a target heart disease of a testee.For example, the prediction information may include death probabilityinformation which indicates the probability of death within the nextfive years or the probability of death within the next ten years inrelation to the target heart disease of the testee.

According to an embodiment, the prediction information may be providedtogether with the instruction information or prescription information.For example, secondary information may include, in addition to specificinstruction information and prescription information, predictioninformation related to when a subsequent procedure instructed in thecorresponding information is performed.

For example, the secondary information may include first predictioninformation including the probability of death of a testee when thetestee does not take a drug and second prediction information includingthe probability of death of the testee when the drug is administered ata recommended dose according to prescription information determinedaccording to obtained heart disease diagnosis assistance information.

As another example, the secondary information may also includeprediction information related to the probability of death or a decreasein the probability of death when the testee follows a guidelineaccording to instruction information determined according to theobtained heart disease diagnosis assistance information.

Meanwhile, according to an embodiment of the present invention,diagnosis assistance information may include a CAM related to the outputdiagnosis assistance information. Together with the primary diagnosisassistance information or as the primary diagnosis assistanceinformation, a CAM may be obtained from a neural network model. When theCAM is obtained, a visualized image of the CAM may be output. The CAMmay be provided to a user via the above-described user interface. TheCAM may be provided according to a user's selection. A CAM image may beprovided together with a fundus image. The CAM image may be provided tosuperimpose the fundus image. The class activation map in thisdescription is construed as including similar or expanded concepts whichrefer to indicate relationship between locations in the image and theprediction result. For example, the class activation map may be aSaliency map, a heat map, a feature map or a probability map, whichprovide information in relationship between pixels in the image and theprediction result. As a specific example, when a diagnosis assistancesystem for assisting in heart disease diagnosis on the basis of a fundusimage includes a fundus image obtaining unit configured to obtain atarget fundus image, a pre-processing unit configured to process thetarget fundus image so that blood vessels therein are highlighted, adiagnosis assistance unit configured to obtain heart disease diagnosisassistance information related to a patient on the basis of thepre-processed image, and an output unit configured to output the heartdisease diagnosis assistance information, the diagnosis assistance unitmay obtain a CAM related to a heart disease diagnosis assistance unit,and the output unit may output the obtained CAM to superimpose thetarget fundus image.

In other words, a method of providing diagnosis assistance informationto a user may include obtaining a third image which is a CAM imageobtained via a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelbased on a first image corresponding to an image which is obtained byimaging (that is, original image) and a second image (for example, ablood vessel highlighting image or a blood vessel extraction image)obtained by reconstructing the first image so that target elements (forexample, blood vessels) included in the first image are highlighted anddisplaying the first image and the third image to superimpose eachother.

FIG. 47 is a view for describing a diagnosis assistance method accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 47, adiagnosis assistance method according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include obtaining a CAM related to heart disease diagnosisassistance information or obtaining a feature map for displaying aregion related to the obtained heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation in a fundus image from the CAM. The CAM or feature map maybe provided in the form of visual information to a user.

FIG. 47(a) schematically illustrates a CAM obtained by the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model described herein. The CAM mayrefer to a feature map used in order to visualize the basis of inferreddiagnosis assistance information that is output from the heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model. The CAM may include pixels towhich activity values indicating correlation with the output informationare assigned. The pixels included in the CAM may have color values. Thecolor values may be determined according to the activity values. Forexample, in FIG. 47(a), a dark region (or a region having a specificcolor) may be a region strongly related to heart disease diagnosisassistance information obtained by the heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model.

FIG. 47(b) schematically illustrates a feature map obtained from the CAMillustrated in FIG. 47(a). The feature map may be generated byextracting, from the CAM, only the regions in which correlation with theheart disease diagnosis assistance information is a threshold value orhigher. In other words, the feature map may be generated on the basis ofpixels from the CAM whose activity values are the threshold value orhigher.

The feature map may include a highlighting region which is visuallyhighlighted. For example, referring to FIG. 47(b), the feature mapaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may include a firsthighlighting region H1 and a second highlighting region H2 obtained onthe basis of pixels from the CAM illustrated in FIG. 47(a) whoseactivity values are a reference value or higher.

FIG. 48 is a view for describing a diagnosis assistance method accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 48, adiagnosis assistance method according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include causing a CAM or a feature map to superimpose afundus image. The fundus image and the CAM or feature map superimposingthe fundus image may be provided in the form of visual information to auser.

FIG. 48(a) illustrates an example of a CAM superimposing on a fundusimage. The CAM superimposing on the fundus image may visually showcorrelation between the output diagnosis assistance information andpixels included in the fundus image.

FIG. 48(b) illustrates an example of a feature map superimposing on afundus image. Highlighting regions H1 and H2 included in the feature mapmay visually highlight predetermined regions in the fundus image. Thehighlighting regions H1 and H2 included in the feature map may visuallyhighlight regions strongly related to the output diagnosis assistanceinformation.

When visual information in which regions related to diagnosis assistanceinformation are indicated as in FIG. 47, 48(a), or 48(b) is provided tothe user, the user may more clearly recognize regions which are thebasis of deriving the diagnosis assistance information that is outputfrom the fundus image. For example, when risk information whichindicates that a testee belongs to a risk group for a coronary arterydisease is obtained via a heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model, by providing a CAM or a feature map related to the riskinformation or a fundus image with the superimposed CAM or feature mapto the user, the time required for the user to identify a blood vesselsite related to a coronary artery disease may be shortened.

Although the description has been given above on the basis of the casein which a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model isused, the above description may be extensively applied to variousdiseases other than cardiovascular diseases.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the outputdiagnosis assistance information may be changed. The output diagnosisassistance information may be changed according to accuracy of a neuralnetwork model or the number of pieces of training data used in trainingof the neural network model.

For example, as the accuracy of a heart disease diagnosis assistanceneural network model used in obtaining diagnosis assistance informationis improved, the output diagnosis assistance information may be changedfrom disease presence/absence information to grade information.Alternatively, as the accuracy of the heart disease diagnosis assistanceneural network model is improved, the output diagnosis assistanceinformation may be changed from grade information to score information.

Also, for example, as the number of pieces of training data used intraining of the heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network modelused in obtaining diagnosis assistance information is increased, theoutput diagnosis assistance information may be changed from diseasepresence/absence information to grade information. Alternatively, theoutput diagnosis assistance information may be changed from gradeinformation to score information.

Diagnosis assistance information provided to a user may be determineddifferently for each range. A range which becomes the basis ofdetermining a type of output diagnosis assistance information may bechanged.

For example, when data included in training data used in a neuralnetwork model for outputting score information includes data that is notevenly distributed for each score label value, the output accuracy of aneural network model may be different according to a score value. Inconsideration of this aspect, outputting a score value for a scoresection whose accuracy is sufficiently secured while outputting a gradefor a score section whose accuracy is not sufficiently secured may beuseful for determination by a user.

As a specific example, when score information is obtained using a neuralnetwork model which outputs score information on the basis of a fundusimage, the output diagnosis assistance information may be scoreinformation when the obtained score information belongs to a first scoresection, and the output diagnosis assistance information may be gradeinformation when the obtained score information belongs to a secondscore section. In this case, the neural network model may be a neuralnetwork model which is trained such that accuracy of output informationin the second score section is lower than accuracy of output informationin the first score section.

FIGS. 74 and 75 are views for describing a graphical interface fordisplaying diagnosis assistance information according to an embodimentof the invention described herein. The graphical interface may outputdiagnosis assistance information or the like described herein through adiagnostic device or a separate device having a display unit andcommunicating with the diagnostic device. Unless particularly describedotherwise, the descriptions given above with reference to FIGS. 29, 30,and the like may be similarly applied to the graphical interface whichwill be described below with reference to FIGS. 74 and 75.

Referring to FIGS. 74 and 75, a graphical interface for displayingdiagnosis assistance information obtained by the diagnosis assistanceneural network model described herein may be provided.

Referring to FIGS. 74 and 75, the graphical interface according to anembodiment may display a target fundus image. The graphical interfacemay display the target fundus image and/or a CAM image obtained on thebasis of the target fundus image. The CAM image obtained on the basis ofthe target fundus image may show a region related to determination of anextent of risk of a target disease, e.g., a coronary artery disease.

Referring to FIGS. 74 and 75, the graphical interface according to anembodiment may include an extent-of-risk display unit which visuallyshows an extent of risk related to a target heart disease. Theextent-of-risk display unit may have a shape that changes according toan extent of risk of the target heart disease for a testee which isdetermined on the basis of a target fundus image. The extent-of-riskdisplay unit may have a color that changes according to an extent ofrisk of the target heart disease. For example, the extent-of-riskdisplay unit may be shown in a form related to a part related to thetarget disease.

As a specific example, as shown in FIGS. 74 and 75, the extent-of-riskdisplay unit may include a schematic heart-shaped image in which acolored region changes according to an extent of risk. As shown in FIGS.74 and 75, when an extent of risk of a target heart disease for a testeeis mild, the extent-of-risk display unit may include a heart-shapedimage which is only minimally colored, and, when the extent of risk ofthe target heart disease for the testee is moderate, the extent-of-riskdisplay unit may include a heart-shaped image which is abouthalf-colored.

The graphical interface according to an embodiment may include a scoredisplay unit which displays a numerical value or a score related to atarget heart disease for a testee. For example, the graphical interfacemay include a score display unit which displays a CACs of the testee.The graphical interface may include a score display unit which displaysthe CACs of the testee for each ranges of the score.

For example, the graphical interface may include a score display unitwhich displays that the CACs of the testee is at Level 0 when the CACsof the testee is 0, displays that the CACs of the testee is at Level 1when the CACs of the testee is in a range of 1 to 10, displays that theCACs of the testee is at Level 2 when the CACs of the testee is in arange of 10 to 100, displays that the CACs of the testee is at Level 3when the CACs of the testee is in a range of 100 to 400, and displaysthat the CACs of the testee is at Level 4 when the CACs of the testee isin a range of 400 or higher.

For example, the graphical interface may include a score display unitwhich displays a numerical value or a score related to a target heartdisease for a testee through a heart-shaped region as illustrated inFIGS. 74 and 75. The graphical interface may display the heart-shapedregion by varying coloring thereof according to a numerical valuerelated to a heart disease, e.g., a coronary artery calcium score, forthe testee.

For example, the graphical interface may include a score display unitwhich displays a heart image which is colored 0% when the CACs of thetestee is 0, displays a heart image which is colored 20% when the CACsof the testee is in the range of 1 to 10, displays a heart image whichis colored 50% when the CACs of the testee is in the range of 10 to 100,displays a heart image which is colored 70% when the CACs of the testeeis in the range of 100 to 400, and displays a heart image which iscolored 90% when the CACs of the testee is in the range of 400 orhigher.

The graphical interface according to an embodiment may display aprescription information related to an extent of risk of a target heartdisease for a testee as well. For example, the graphical interface maydisplay a prescription information related to a score related to atarget heart disease for a testee. The graphical interface may displayprescription information on a statin drug related to a a CAC score. Thegraphical interface may display prescription information on a statindrug related to a CACs, according to a pre-stored matching table. Thegraphical interface may display, on the basis of a pre-stored matchingtable, a prescription information on a statin drug that is calculatedaccording to a CAC score and/or other pieces of information on thetestee (for example, the HDL cholesterol level, the LDL cholesterollevel, the triglyceride level, age, gender, smoking status, and thelike).

2.4 Assisting in Heart Disease Diagnosis Using Parallel Neural NetworkModel

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in assistance inheart disease diagnosis using a neural network model, theabove-described parallel training process or parallel diagnostic processmay be used. Unless particularly mentioned otherwise, the detailsrelated to the above-described diagnosis assistance system for aplurality of labels may apply analogically to the following details.

2.4.1 Parallel Diagnosis Assistance System for Heart Disease

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a paralleldiagnosis assistance system for a heart disease may be provided. Theparallel diagnosis assistance system for a heart disease may train aplurality of neural network models which output heart disease diagnosisassistance information or use the plurality of trained neural networkmodels to obtain a plurality of pieces of heart disease diagnosisassistance information.

For example, the parallel diagnosis assistance system may train, on thebasis of an input fundus image, a first neural network model whichobtains a first piece of diagnosis assistance information used in heartdisease diagnosis of a patient and a second neural network model whichobtains a second piece of diagnosis assistance information used innon-heart disease diagnosis of the patient and may obtain heart diseasediagnosis assistance information of the patient using the trained firstneural network model and second neural network model.

FIG. 49 is a view for describing a parallel diagnosis assistance systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.49, a parallel diagnosis assistance system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention may include a training device 1001, a diagnosticdevice 2001, and a client device 3001.

Referring to FIG. 49, the training device 1001 may include a firsttraining unit 101 a configured to train a first neural network model anda second training unit 101 b configured to train a second neural networkmodel. Referring to FIG. 49, the diagnostic device 2001 may include afirst diagnostic unit 201 a and a second diagnostic unit 201 b.Referring to FIG. 49, the client device 3001 may include an imaging unit301 and an output unit 303.

The first training unit 101 a and the second training unit 101 b may bephysically divided elements or may be elements that are logicallydivided but driven by one processor or stored in one memory. Thetraining device 1001 may also include more than two training units.

FIG. 50 is a view for describing a parallel diagnosis assistance systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.50, a parallel diagnosis assistance system may include a first trainingdevice 1001 a, a second training device 1001 b, a first diagnosticdevice 2001 a, a second diagnostic device 2001 b, and a client device3001. A first training unit 101 a and a second training unit 101 b maybe physically divided elements or may be elements that are logicallydivided but driven by one processor or stored in one memory. Thetraining device 1001 may also include more than two training units.

Referring to FIG. 50, the first training device 1001 a may include thefirst training unit 101 a, and the second training device 1001 b mayinclude the second training unit 101 b. Referring to FIG. 50, the firstdiagnostic device 2001 a may include a first diagnostic unit 201 a, andthe second diagnostic device 2001 b may include a second diagnostic unit201 b. The client device 3001 may include an imaging unit 301 and anoutput unit 303.

The first training unit 101 a may obtain first training data, and thesecond training unit 101 b may obtain second training data. The firsttraining unit 101 a may train a first neural network model which obtainsa first piece of diagnosis assistance information, and the secondtraining unit 101 b may train a second neural network model whichobtains a second piece of diagnosis assistance information.

For example, the first training unit 101 a may train a first neuralnetwork model which obtains a first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation including a first type of information for assisting indiagnosis of a first heart disease, and the second training unit 101 bmay train a second neural network model which obtains a second piece ofdiagnosis assistance information including a second type of informationfor assisting in diagnosis of the first heart disease.

As a specific example, the first training unit 101 a may train a firstneural network model which obtains a first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation which is calcium score information for determining a degreeof aortic valve calcification that affects a coronary artery disease,and the second training unit 101 b may train a second neural networkmodel which obtains a second piece of diagnosis assistance informationwhich is grade information indicating an extent of risk of a coronaryartery disease.

As another example, the first training unit 101 a may train a firstneural network model which obtains a first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation which is diagnosis assistance information related to a firstheart disease, and the second training unit 101 b may train a secondneural network model which obtains a second piece of diagnosisassistance information which is diagnosis assistance information relatedto a second heart disease.

As a specific example, the first training unit 101 a may train a firstneural network model which obtains a first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation which is calcium score information for determining a degreeof aortic valve calcification that affects a coronary artery disease,and the second training unit 101 b may train a second neural networkmodel which obtains a second piece of diagnosis assistance informationwhich is grade information indicating a risk of diabetes.

As still another example, the first training unit 101 a may train afirst neural network model which obtains a first piece of diagnosisassistance information which is diagnosis assistance information relatedto a heart disease, and the second training unit 101 b may train asecond neural network model which obtains a second piece of diagnosisassistance information which is diagnosis assistance information relatedto a disease other than a heart disease (for example, an eye disease).

As a specific example, the first training unit 101 a may train a firstneural network model which obtains a first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation which is grade information related to a degree of aorticvalve calcification that affects a coronary artery disease, and thesecond training unit 101 b may train a second neural network model whichobtains a second piece of diagnosis assistance information which isgrade information indicating an extent of risk of glaucoma.

The first diagnostic unit 201 a may obtain a first neural network model,and the second diagnostic unit 201 b may obtain a second neural networkmodel. The first diagnostic unit 201 a may obtain a first piece ofdiagnostic assistance information using the first neural network model,and the second diagnostic unit 201 b may obtain a second piece ofdiagnostic assistance information using the second neural network model.

For example, the first diagnostic unit 201 a may obtain a first piece ofdiagnostic assistance information including a first type of informationrelated to a first heart disease by using the first neural networkmodel, and the second diagnostic unit 201 b may obtain a second piece ofdiagnostic assistance information including a second type of informationrelated to the first heart disease by using the second neural networkmodel.

As a specific example, the first diagnostic unit 201 a may obtaincalcium score information for determining a degree of heartcalcification that affects a coronary artery disease by using the firstneural network model, and the second diagnostic unit 201 b may obtaingrade information indicating an extent of risk of a coronary arterydisease by using the second neural network model.

As another example, the first diagnostic unit 201 a may obtain a firstpiece of diagnostic assistance information which is diagnosticassistance information related to a first heart disease by using thefirst neural network model, and the second diagnostic unit 201 b mayobtain a second piece of diagnostic assistance information which isdiagnostic assistance information related to a second heart disease byusing the second neural network model.

As a specific example, the first diagnostic unit 201 a may obtaincalcium score information for determining a degree of aortic valvecalcification that affects a coronary artery disease by using the firstneural network model, and the second diagnostic unit 201 b may obtaingrade information indicating an extent of risk of diabetes by using thesecond neural network model.

As still another example, the first diagnostic unit 201 a may obtain afirst piece of diagnostic assistance information which is diagnosticassistance information related to a heart disease by using the firstneural network model, and the second diagnostic unit 201 b may obtain asecond piece of diagnostic assistance information which is diagnosticassistance information related to a disease other than a heart disease(for example, an eye disease) by using the second neural network model.

As a specific example, the first diagnostic unit 201 a may obtaincalcium score information for determining a degree of aortic valvecalcification that affects a coronary artery disease by using the firstneural network model, and the second diagnostic unit 201 b may obtaingrade information indicating an extent of risk of glaucoma by using thesecond neural network model.

The first diagnostic unit 201 a and the second diagnostic unit 201 b maybe physically divided elements or may be elements that are logicallydivided but driven by one processor or stored in one memory. Thediagnostic device may also include more than two diagnostic units.

The diagnostic device may also include a diagnostic unit including aplurality of diagnostic modules. This will be described in more detailbelow in “Parallel diagnosis assistance for heart disease” section.

The client device may include the imaging unit 301 configured to obtaina fundus image. The client device may transmit the obtained targetfundus image to the diagnostic device and obtain heart disease diagnosisassistance information according to the target fundus image from thediagnostic device.

The client device may provide the obtained heart disease diagnosisassistance information to a user via the output unit 303. The clientdevice may provide the obtained heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation in the form of visual and/or aural data via the output unit303.

Although the case in which a plurality of heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network models are trained by a diagnosis assistancesystem including a training device, a diagnostic device, and a clientdevice has been described above with reference to FIGS. 49 and 50, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. The training of the pluralityof heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network models may beperformed by various other forms of systems including one or moredevices.

FIG. 51 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 51, a method for assisting in diagnosis of a target heartdisease using a fundus image may include obtaining a target fundus image(S410), obtaining a first type of diagnosis assistance information(S430), obtaining a second type of diagnosis assistance information(S450), and outputting heart disease diagnosis assistance information(S470).

The obtaining of the target fundus image (S410) may include obtaining atarget fundus image which is obtained by imaging a fundus of a testee.

The obtaining of the first type of diagnosis assistance information(S430) may include, on the basis of the target fundus image, obtaining afirst type of diagnosis assistance information according to the targetfundus image via a first neural network model which is trained to obtaina first type of diagnosis assistance information used in diagnosis of atarget heart disease on the basis of a fundus image.

The obtaining of the second type of diagnosis assistance information(S450) may include, on the basis of the target fundus image, obtaining asecond type of diagnosis assistance information according to the targetfundus image via a second neural network model which is trained toobtain a second type of diagnosis assistance information used indiagnosis of a target heart disease on the basis of a fundus image.

The outputting of the heart disease diagnosis assistance information(S470) may include, on the basis of the first type of diagnosisassistance information and the second type of diagnosis assistanceinformation, outputting the heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation for assisting in diagnosis of a target heart disease of atestee.

The second type of diagnosis assistance information may be obtained asinformation having a different dimension from the first type ofdiagnosis assistance information, via a second neural network modelwhich is at least partially different from a first neural network model.

The first neural network model may be a neural network model which istrained to classify fundus images into a plurality of pieces of gradeinformation indicating an extent of risk of a target heart disease. Inthis case, the first type of diagnosis assistance information may be aselected piece of grade information among the plurality of pieces ofgrade information.

The second neural network model may be a neural network model which istrained to predict score information which is a numerical value used indiagnosis of a target heart disease according to a fundus image. In thiscase, the second type of diagnosis assistance information may be scoreinformation.

The first neural network model may be trained to classify a fundus imageas normality information which indicates that a testee belongs to anormal group for a target heart disease or abnormality information whichindicates that the testee belongs to a risk group for the target heartdisease.

The first type of diagnosis assistance information may be riskinformation which indicates whether a testee belongs to a risk group fora target heart disease.

The first neural network model may be provided to perform multiclassclassification of fundus images into a plurality of pieces of diagnosisassistance information, and the second neural network model may beprovided to perform binary classification of fundus images into a firstpiece of diagnosis assistance information and a second piece ofdiagnosis assistance information.

The first type of diagnosis assistance information may be any one ofgrade information which indicates an extent of risk of a target heartdisease, score information which is a numerical value used in diagnosisof a target heart disease, and abnormality information which indicatesthat a testee belongs to a risk group for a target heart disease.

The second type of diagnosis assistance information may be any one,which is different from the first type of diagnosis assistanceinformation, of grade information which indicates an extent of risk of atarget heart disease, score information which is a numerical value usedin diagnosis of a target heart disease, and abnormality informationwhich indicates that a testee belongs to a risk group for a target heartdisease.

The target heart disease may be a coronary artery disease.

The first type of diagnosis assistance information may be coronaryartery disease grade information selected among a plurality of pieces ofgrade information for indicating an extent of risk of a coronary arterydisease. In this case, the second type of diagnosis assistanceinformation may be coronary artery calcium score information used indetermining an extent of risk of the coronary artery disease.

FIG. 52 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 52, the outputting of the heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation (S470) may include determining whether the first type ofdiagnosis assistance information and the second type of diagnosisassistance information match each other (S471) and outputting heartdisease diagnosis assistance information determined according to whetherthe first type of diagnosis assistance information and the second typeof diagnosis assistance information match each other (S473).

The determining of whether the first type of diagnosis assistanceinformation and the second type of diagnosis assistance informationmatch each other (S471) may include comparing the first type ofinformation and the second type of information based on a matchingtable.

The outputting of the heart disease diagnosis assistance informationdetermined according to whether the first type of diagnosis assistanceinformation and the second type of diagnosis assistance informationmatch each other (S473) may further include, when the first type ofdiagnosis assistance information and the second type of diagnosisassistance information match each other, outputting heart diseasediagnosis assistance information including at least one of the firsttype of diagnosis assistance information and the second type ofdiagnosis assistance information.

The outputting of the determined heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation (S473) may further include, when the first type of diagnosisassistance information and the second type of diagnosis assistanceinformation do not match each other, outputting heart disease diagnosisassistance information including any one piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation selected from the first type of diagnosis assistanceinformation and the second type of diagnosis assistance information.

The outputting of the determined heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation (S473) may further include, when the first type of diagnosisassistance information and the second type of diagnosis assistanceinformation do not match each other, outputting reference diagnosisassistance information, which is any one piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation selected from the first type of diagnosis assistanceinformation and the second type of diagnosis assistance information, andheart disease diagnosis assistance information including the other pieceof diagnosis assistance information which is corrected to match thereference diagnosis assistance information.

The determining of whether the first type of diagnosis assistanceinformation and the second type of diagnosis assistance informationmatch each other may include determining whether the first type ofdiagnosis assistance information and the second type of diagnosisassistance information match each other by using a first typeinformation-second type information matching table which is provided inadvance.

The above-described method of assisting in heart disease diagnosis maybe provided in the form of a computer-readable recording medium in whicha program for executing the method is recorded.

FIG. 53 is a view for describing a heart disease diagnosis assistancedevice according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 53, a heart disease diagnosis assistance device 6000 for assistingin diagnosis of a target heart disease using a fundus image according toan embodiment of the present invention may include a fundus imageobtaining unit 6100, a first type diagnosis assistance informationobtaining unit 6300, a second type diagnosis assistance informationobtaining unit 6500, and a heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation output unit 6700.

The fundus image obtaining unit 6100 may obtain a target fundus imagewhich is obtained by imaging a fundus of a testee.

The first type diagnosis assistance information obtaining unit 6300 may,on the basis of the target fundus image, obtain first type of diagnosisassistance information according to the target fundus image via a firstneural network model which is trained to obtain a first type ofdiagnosis assistance information used in diagnosis of a target heartdisease on the basis of a fundus image.

The second type diagnosis assistance information obtaining unit 6500may, on the basis of the target fundus image, obtain second type ofdiagnosis assistance information according to the target fundus imagevia a second neural network model which is trained to obtain a secondtype of diagnosis assistance information used in diagnosis of a targetheart disease on the basis of a fundus image.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit 6700 may,on the basis of the first type of diagnosis assistance information andthe second type of diagnosis assistance information, output heartdisease diagnosis assistance information for assisting in diagnosis of atarget heart disease of a testee.

The second type of diagnosis assistance information may be obtained asinformation having a different dimension from the first type ofdiagnosis assistance information, via a second neural network modelwhich is at least partially different from a first neural network model.

The first neural network model may be provided to perform multiclassclassification of fundus images into a plurality of pieces of diagnosisassistance information, and the second neural network model may beprovided to perform binary classification of fundus images into a firstpiece of diagnosis assistance information and a second piece ofdiagnosis assistance information.

The first type of diagnosis assistance information may be any one ofgrade information which indicates an extent of risk of a target heartdisease, score information which is a numerical value used in diagnosisof a target heart disease, and abnormality information which indicatesthat a testee belongs to a risk group for a target heart disease.

The second type of diagnosis assistance information may be any one,which is different from the first type of diagnosis assistanceinformation, of grade information which indicates an extent of risk of atarget heart disease, score information which is a numerical value usedin diagnosis of a target heart disease, and abnormality informationwhich indicates that a testee belongs to a risk group for a target heartdisease.

The first neural network model may be a neural network model which istrained to classify fundus images into a plurality of pieces of gradeinformation indicating an extent of risk of a target heart disease. Inthis case, the first type of diagnosis assistance information may begrade information selected from a plurality of pieces of gradeinformation.

The second neural network model may be a neural network model which istrained to predict score information which is a numerical value used indiagnosis of a target heart disease according to a fundus image. In thiscase, the second type of diagnosis assistance information may be scoreinformation.

The first neural network model may be trained to classify a fundus imageas normality information which indicates that a testee belongs to anormal group for a target heart disease or abnormality information whichindicates that the testee belongs to a risk group for the target heartdisease. The first type of diagnosis assistance information may be riskinformation which indicates whether a testee belongs to a risk group fora target heart disease.

The target heart disease may be a coronary artery disease. The firsttype of diagnosis assistance information may be coronary artery diseasegrade information selected among a plurality of pieces of gradeinformation for indicating an extent of risk of a coronary arterydisease. The second type of diagnosis assistance information may becoronary artery calcium score information used in determining an extentof risk of the coronary artery disease.

FIG. 54 is a view for describing a heart disease diagnosis assistancedevice according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 54, a heart disease diagnosis assistance device6701 may include adiagnosis assistance information matching determination unit 6711 and aheart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit 6731.

The diagnosis assistance information matching determination unit 6711may determine whether a first type of diagnosis assistance informationand a second type of diagnosis assistance information match each other.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit 6731 mayoutput heart disease diagnosis assistance information determinedaccording to whether the first type of diagnosis assistance informationand the second type of diagnosis assistance information match eachother.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit 6731 mayoutput heart disease diagnosis assistance information including at leastone of the first type of diagnosis assistance information and the secondtype of diagnosis assistance information when the first type ofdiagnosis assistance information and the second type of diagnosisassistance information match each other.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit 6731 mayoutput heart disease diagnosis assistance information including any onepiece of diagnosis assistance information selected from the first typeof diagnosis assistance information and the second type of diagnosisassistance information when the first type of diagnosis assistanceinformation and the second type of diagnosis assistance information donot match each other.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit 6731 mayfurther include, when the first type of diagnosis assistance informationand the second type of diagnosis assistance information do not matcheach other, outputting reference diagnosis assistance information, whichis any one piece of diagnosis assistance information selected from thefirst type of diagnosis assistance information and the second type ofdiagnosis assistance information, and heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation including the other piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation which is corrected to match the reference diagnosisassistance information.

2.4.2 Parallel Training of Heart Disease Diagnosis Assistance NeuralNetwork Models

According to the present specification, a method and/or a device fortraining two or more neural network models in parallel to assist inheart disease diagnosis may be provided. According to the presentspecification, a method and/or a device for training a plurality ofdiagnosis assistance neural network models, which include a neuralnetwork model for obtaining diagnosis assistance information related toa heart disease, in parallel may be provided.

The parallel training of heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork models may be performed by a training device.

FIG. 55 illustrates a training device 1001 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. Referring to FIG. 55, the training device 1001according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a firsttraining unit 101 a and a second training unit 101 b.

The first training unit 101 a may include a first data processing module111 a, a first training module 131 a, and a first training resultobtaining module 151 a. The second training unit 101 b may include asecond data processing module 111 b, a second training module 131 b, anda second training result obtaining module 151 b.

The first training unit 101 a may obtain first fundus image trainingdata. The first data processing module 111 a may reconstruct a fundusimage included in the first fundus image training data. The first dataprocessing module 111 a may suitably reconstruct the fundus image inconsideration of a type of diagnosis assistance information to beobtained by the first training module. The first data processing module111 a may reconstruct the fundus image so that blood vessels in thefundus image are highlighted. The first data processing module 111 a mayobtain a fundus image in which blood vessels are highlighted.

The second training unit 101 b may obtain second fundus image trainingdata. The second data processing module 111 b may reconstruct a fundusimage included in the second fundus image training data. The second dataprocessing module 111 b may suitably reconstruct the fundus image inconsideration of a type of diagnosis assistance information to beobtained by the second training module. The second data processingmodule 111 b may process the fundus image so that blood vessels arehighlighted.

The first training unit 101 a may train a first neural network model,and the second training unit 101 b may train a second neural networkmodel. Alternatively, the first training module may train the firstneural network model, and the second training module may train thesecond neural network model.

For example, the first training unit 101 a may train a first neuralnetwork model which obtains diagnosis assistance information related toa first heart disease on the basis of a fundus image, and the secondtraining unit 101 b may train a second neural network model whichobtains diagnosis assistance information related to a second heartdisease on the basis of a fundus image.

As a specific example, the first training unit 101 a may train a firstneural network model which obtains score information for diagnosis of acoronary artery disease on the basis of a fundus image, and the secondtraining unit 101 b may train a second neural network model whichobtains score information related to hypertension on the basis of afundus image.

As another example, the first training unit 101 a may train a firstneural network model which obtains a first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation related to a first heart disease on the basis of a fundusimage, and the second training unit 101 b may train a second neuralnetwork model which obtains a second piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation related to the first heart disease on the basis of a fundusimage.

As a specific example, the first training unit 101 a may train a firstneural network model which obtains score information for diagnosis of acoronary artery disease on the basis of a fundus image, and the secondtraining unit 101 b may train a second neural network model whichobtains grade information for diagnosis of a coronary artery disease onthe basis of a fundus image.

As still another example, the first training unit 101 a may train afirst neural network model which obtains a first piece of diagnosisassistance information related to a heart disease on the basis of afundus image, and the second training unit 101 b may train a secondneural network model which obtains a second piece of diagnosisassistance information related to another disease.

As a specific example, the first training unit 101 a may train a firstneural network model which obtains grade information for diagnosis of acoronary artery disease on the basis of a fundus image, and the secondtraining unit 101 b may train a second neural network model whichobtains grade information which indicates an extent of risk of glaucomafor a patient.

Although the case in which the first training unit 101 a and the secondtraining unit 101 b are included in a single training device has beenabove described with reference to FIG. 55, this is merely an example,and the first training unit 101 a and the second training unit 101 b mayalso be included in a first training device and a second trainingdevice, respectively.

FIG. 56 is a view for describing a method of training a heart diseasediagnosis assistance neural network model according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. Referring to FIG. 56, a first neural networkmodel and a second neural network model may be trained in parallel witheach other (or independently of each other).

A process for training a first neural network model and a process fortraining a second neural network model which are described withreference to FIG. 56 may be performed sequentially or performedconcurrently during at least a certain time interval.

Referring to FIG. 56, a method of training a heart disease diagnosisassistance neural network model according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may include obtaining first training data (6010 a),training a first neural network model (6030 a), obtaining a firsttraining result (6050 a), obtaining second data (6010 b), training asecond neural network model (6030 b), and obtaining a second trainingresult (6050 b).

The first neural network model and the second neural network model maybe provided to have different layer structures from each other. Thefirst neural network model and the second neural network model mayoutput pieces of diagnosis assistance information different from eachother. The first neural network model and the second neural networkmodel may output diagnosis assistance information using pieces of inputdata different from each other.

The first neural network model and the second neural network model maybe provided to have at least some of common layers which are common toeach other. The first neural network model and the second neural networkmodel may output pieces of diagnosis assistance information differentfrom each other, using pieces of input data at least partly common toeach other.

The first neural network model may be trained to obtain diagnosisassistance information related to a first heart disease on the basis ofa fundus image, and the second neural network model may be trained toobtain diagnosis assistance information related to a second heartdisease on the basis of a fundus image.

The first neural network model may be trained to obtain a first piece ofdiagnosis assistance information related to a first heart disease on thebasis of a fundus image, and the second neural network model may betrained to obtain a second piece of diagnosis assistance informationrelated to the first heart disease on the basis of a fundus image.

The first neural network model may be trained to obtain a first piece ofdiagnosis assistance information related to a heart disease on the basisof a fundus image, and the second neural network model may be trained toobtain a second piece of diagnosis assistance information related to adisease other than the heart disease.

The obtaining of the first training data (6010 a), the training of thefirst neural network model (6030 a), and the obtaining of the firsttraining result (6050 a) may be sequentially performed.

The obtaining of the first training data (6010 a) may include obtainingfundus image training data. The obtaining of the first data may includeobtaining fundus image training data which includes a label forassisting in heart disease diagnosis.

The obtaining of the first training data may include obtaining trainingdata which includes labeled fundus images that satisfy predeterminedcriteria selected from a database provided in advance. For example, theobtaining of the first training data may include obtaining training datawhich includes fundus image data selected in consideration of a targetdisease or target diagnosis assistance information.

The first training data may include a disease presence/absence labelrelated to a target heart disease, a grade label related to the targetheart disease, and/or a score label related to the target heart disease.At least one of the disease presence/absence label, the grade label, andthe score label may be assigned to a fundus image included in the firsttraining data.

A label included in the training data may be of the same type asdiagnosis assistance information output by a neural network model. Forexample, when the first neural network model is a neural network modelwhich outputs score information on the basis of a fundus image, thefirst training data may include a score label. As another example, whenthe first neural network model outputs grade information on the basis ofa fundus image, the first training data may include a grade label. Asstill another example, when the first neural network model outputsdisease presence/absence information on the basis of a fundus image, thefirst training data may include a disease presence/absence label.However, when a matching relationship between different types ofinformation is provided in advance, training data which includes a labelof a different type from diagnosis assistance information output by aneural network model may also be used in training.

The method of training a heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may further include reconstructing a fundus image includedin the obtained first training data. The fundus image reconstruction maybe selectively performed.

The reconstructing of the fundus image included in the first trainingdata may include performing pre-processing which causes blood vesselelements included in the fundus image to be highlighted. The abovedescription may apply analogically to the reconstruction orpre-processing of the fundus image.

In other words, the first neural network model may be trained usingfundus image training data which includes at least one of an originalfundus image which is obtained by imaging and an image reconstructed sothat blood vessels are highlighted.

The training of the first neural network model (6030 a) may includecomparing diagnosis assistance information, which is obtained with afundus image included in the first training data as an input fundusimage, with a label assigned to the input fundus image and updating thefirst neural network model. For example, the training of the firstneural network model (6030 a) may include obtaining grade informationrelated to a coronary artery disease on the basis of an input fundusimage, comparing the obtained grade information with a label assigned tothe input fundus image, and updating the first neural network model.When the label assigned to the fundus image is of a different type fromthe grade information, the comparison thereof may be performed using amatching table provided in advance or a matching relationship designatedby a user. The above description may apply analogically to detailsrelated to the training of the neural network model.

The obtaining of the first training result (6050 a) may includeobtaining parameters of the first neural network model which aregenerated as a result of repeatedly performing the training using thefundus image included in the first training data. When the first neuralnetwork model is a neural network model in the ensemble form whichincludes two or more sub-neural network models, the first trainingresult may include weights related to each sub-neural network model or afinally selected sub-neural network model.

The obtaining of the second training data (6010 b), the training of thesecond neural network model (6030 b), and the obtaining of the secondtraining result (6050 b) may be sequentially performed.

The second training data may include a fundus image and other inputdata. The second training data may include data that is partially incommon with or totally differentiated from the first training data.

For example, when the first neural network model obtains a first pieceof diagnosis assistance information related to a heart disease on thebasis of a fundus image, and the second neural network model obtains asecond piece of diagnosis assistance information related to the heartdisease, the first training data and the second training data may bepartially in common with each other.

For example, the first neural network model and the second neuralnetwork model may be trained using different types of labels included inthe same training data. The first neural network model may be trained tooutput score information using a score label included in the trainingdata, and the second neural network model may be trained to output gradeinformation using a grade label included in the training data.

Also, for example, the first neural network model and the second neuralnetwork model may be trained using the same type of label included inthe same training data. The first neural network model may be trained tooutput score information using a score label included in the trainingdata, and the second neural network model may be trained to output gradeinformation using the score label included in the training data and amatching table in which scores and grades are matched.

As another example, when the first neural network model obtains a firstpiece of diagnosis assistance information related to a first heartdisease on the basis of a fundus image, and the second neural networkmodel obtains a second piece of diagnosis assistance information relatedto a second heart disease (or a disease other than the heart disease),the first training data and the second training data may be partially incommon with each other or differentiated from each other.

For example, the first neural network model and the second neuralnetwork model may be trained using different types of labels included inthe same training data. The first neural network model may be trained tooutput diagnosis assistance information for diagnosis of a coronaryartery disease using a diagnosis assistance label related to thecoronary artery disease included in the training data, and the secondneural network model may be trained to output diagnosis assistanceinformation for diagnosing hypertension using a diagnosis assistancelabel for diagnosing hypertension or glaucoma that is included in thetraining data.

Also, for example, the first neural network model and the second neuralnetwork model may be trained using different pieces of training datawhich include different types of labels. The first neural network modelmay be trained to output diagnosis assistance information for diagnosisof a coronary artery disease using first training data including adiagnosis assistance label related to the coronary artery disease, andthe second neural network model may be trained to output diagnosisassistance information for diagnosing hypertension using second trainingdata including diagnosis assistance information for diagnosinghypertension or glaucoma.

The first training data and the second training data may be pieces oftraining data which are at least partially in common with each other andmay be obtained together or separately. As a specific example, firstdata and second data may be pieces of training data which are selectedfrom pieces of data provided in advance and determined to be at leastpartially different from each other.

The method of training a heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may further include reconstructing a fundus image includedin the obtained second training data. The second neural network modelmay be trained on the basis of a reconstructed fundus image or anoriginal fundus image. The image reconstruction may be performedsimilarly as that described above.

The fundus image included in the second training data may bereconstructed in a form suitable for training of the second neuralnetwork model. The fundus image included in the second training data maybe reconstructed so that accuracy of diagnosis assistance informationoutput from the second neural network model is improved.

The fundus image included in the first training data and the fundusimage included in the second training data may be reconstructeddifferently from each other. For example, the fundus image included inthe first training data may be processed so that blood vessels arehighlighted in order to facilitate obtaining of heart disease diagnosisassistance information, and the fundus image included in the secondtraining data may be processed in order to facilitate obtaining of eyedisease diagnosis assistance information.

The training of the second neural network model may include comparingdiagnosis assistance information, which is obtained with the fundusimage included in the second training data as an input fundus image,with a label assigned to the input fundus image and updating the secondneural network model.

For example, the training of the second neural network model may includeobtaining grade information related to a coronary artery disease on thebasis of the input fundus image, comparing the obtained gradeinformation with a label assigned to the input fundus image, andupdating the first neural network model. When the label assigned to thefundus image is of a different type from the grade information, thecomparison thereof may be performed using a matching table provided inadvance or a matching relationship designated by a user.

The first neural network model and the second neural network model maybe trained independently of each other. Alternatively, the first neuralnetwork model and the second neural network model may also be traineddependently.

For example, when the first training data and the second training dataare at least partially in common with each other, and a first piece ofdiagnosis assistance information obtained by the first neural networkmodel and a second piece of diagnosis assistance information obtained bythe second neural network model are of different types, the first neuralnetwork model and the second neural network model may be trainedtogether in consideration of correlation between the first piece ofdiagnosis assistance information and the second piece of diagnosisassistance information.

As a specific example, the first neural network model may classify inputfundus images, to which score labels are assigned, into a first to thirdpiece of grade information, and the second neural network model mayclassify the input fundus images into a first to fifth piece of gradeinformation. In this case, the training of the first neural networkmodel and the second neural network model may be performed inconsideration of both the correlation between the first to third gradesand the first to fifth grades and the correlation between each grade andscore values.

2.4.3 Parallel Diagnosis Assistance for Heart Disease

According to the present specification, a device and/or a method forperforming diagnosis assistance processes in parallel using a pluralityof neural network models may be provided. A device and/or a method forobtaining a plurality of pieces of diagnosis assistance informationwhich include diagnosis assistance information related to a heartdisease by using a plurality of diagnosis assistance neural networkmodels may be provided. The parallel diagnosis assistance process whichwill be described below may be performed by the above-describeddiagnostic device, diagnostic unit, control unit, or processor.

FIG. 57 is a view for describing a diagnostic device 2001 according toan embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 57, thediagnostic device 2001 may include a diagnosis request obtaining module2011, a data reconstruction module 2013, diagnosis assistance modules2015 a and 2015 b, and a diagnosis assistance information output module2017.

The diagnosis request obtaining module 2011 may obtain a request fordiagnosis assistance information. The diagnosis request obtaining modulemay obtain a request for diagnosis assistance information as well as adiagnosis target fundus image. The diagnosis request obtaining module2011 may obtain a diagnosis request that requests for a first piece ofdiagnosis assistance information and a second piece of diagnosisassistance information. The diagnosis request may include an informationtype (for example, disease presence/absence information or gradeinformation) of the requested first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation and/or second piece of diagnosis assistance information.

The diagnosis request obtaining module 2011 may obtain a diagnosisrequest via a user interface. Alternatively, the diagnosis requestobtaining module may receive a diagnosis request obtained from a uservia an external device.

The data reconstruction module 2013 may process the obtained data. Forexample, the data reconstruction module may reconstruct image data.Alternatively, the data reconstruction module may perform variousprocesses for optimizing the training data described herein, such asimage pre-processing or data serialization.

The diagnosis assistance module 2015 may include a first diagnosisassistance module 2015 a and a second diagnosis assistance module 2015b. The first diagnosis assistance module 2015 a may obtain a first pieceof diagnosis assistance information using a first neural network model.The second diagnosis assistance module 2015 b may obtain a second pieceof diagnosis assistance information using a second neural network model.Although the case in which a single diagnostic device includes aplurality of diagnosis assistance modules has been described above withreference to FIG. 57, the invention described herein is not limitedthereto, and a plurality of diagnostic devices may have their owndiagnostic units (or diagnosis assistance modules) and obtain diagnosisassistance information using different neural network models.

For example, the first diagnosis assistance module (or first diagnosticunit) 2015 a may obtain diagnosis assistance information related to afirst heart disease using a first neural network model, and the seconddiagnosis assistance module (or second diagnostic unit) 2015 b mayobtain diagnosis assistance information related to a second heartdisease using a second neural network model.

As a specific example, the first diagnosis assistance module (or firstdiagnostic unit) 2015 a may obtain score information for diagnosis of acoronary artery disease using a first neural network model, and thesecond diagnosis assistance module (or second diagnostic unit) 2015 bmay obtain score information related to hypertension using a secondneural network model.

As another example, the first diagnosis assistance module (or firstdiagnostic unit) 2015 a may obtain a first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation related to a first heart disease using a first neuralnetwork model, and the second diagnosis assistance module (or seconddiagnostic unit) 2015 b may obtain a second piece of diagnosisassistance information related to the first heart disease.

As a specific example, the first diagnosis assistance module (or firstdiagnostic unit) 2015 a may obtain score information for diagnosis of acoronary artery disease using a first neural network model, and thesecond diagnosis assistance module (or second diagnostic unit) 2015 bmay obtain grade information for diagnosis of a coronary artery disease.

As still another example, the first diagnosis assistance module (orfirst diagnostic unit) 2015 a may obtain a first piece of diagnosisassistance information related to diagnosis of a heart disease using afirst neural network model, and the second diagnosis assistance module(or second diagnostic unit) 2015 b may obtain a second piece ofdiagnosis assistance information related to diagnosis of another diseaseusing a second neural network model.

As a specific example, the first diagnosis assistance module (or firstdiagnostic unit) 2015 a may obtain grade information for diagnosis of acoronary artery disease using a first neural network model, and thesecond diagnosis assistance module (or second diagnostic unit) 2015 bmay obtain grade information for diagnosis of glaucoma.

A diagnosis assistance information output module may output diagnosisassistance information. The diagnosis assistance information outputmodule may output final diagnosis assistance information obtained on thebasis of a first piece of diagnosis assistance information and a secondpiece of diagnosis assistance information and/or secondary diagnosisassistance information obtained from the first piece of diagnosisassistance information, second piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation, or final diagnosis assistance information. The diagnosisassistance information output module may provide diagnosis assistanceinformation to a user or transmit diagnosis assistance information to anexternal device.

FIG. 58 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 58, 58A is a flowchart for describing an operation ofa data obtaining module (or diagnosis request obtaining module).Referring to FIG. 58, 58B is a flowchart for describing an operation ofa data reconstruction module. 58C is a flowchart for describing anoperation of a first diagnosis assistance module. 58D is a flowchart fordescribing an operation of a second diagnosis assistance module. 58E isa flowchart for describing an operation of a diagnosis assistanceinformation output module. However, the operations illustrated in 58A to58E are not necessarily performed by the modules described above. Forexample, the operations described with reference to 58A to 58E may alsobe performed by a single module, for example, a binocular diagnosisassistance module, or a processor or a control unit of a diagnosticdevice.

Referring to FIG. 58, a method of assisting in heart disease diagnosisaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may includeobtaining a target fundus image (S7001), reconstructing the targetfundus image (S7003), obtaining a first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation via a first neural network model on the basis of thereconstructed image (S7005), obtaining a second piece of diagnosisassistance information via a second neural network model on the basis ofthe reconstructed image (S7007), and outputting diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of the first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation and the second piece of diagnosis assistance information(S7009).

The obtaining of the target fundus image (S7001) may be performed by adiagnosis request obtaining module or an imaging unit. For example, theobtaining of the target fundus image (S7001) may include obtaining atarget fundus image and a diagnosis request that requests for diagnosisassistance information related to the target fundus image. Also, forexample, the obtaining of the target fundus image (S7001) may includeobtaining a target fundus image via an imaging unit. Alternatively, theobtaining of the target fundus image may include obtaining a targetfundus image in response to obtaining a diagnosis request.

The reconstructing of the target fundus image (S7003) may be performedby a data reconstruction module, a control unit, or a processor. Theabove description may similarly apply to the reconstruction orpre-processing of the target fundus image.

The target fundus image may be reconstructed differently according todiagnosis assistance information to be obtained. In other words, aplurality of diagnostic units (or diagnostic modules) that operate inparallel may obtain diagnosis assistance information using a pluralityof reconstructed images which are provided by reconstructing the sametarget fundus image differently. As a specific example, when a diagnosisassistance method includes, on the basis of a target fundus image,obtaining a first piece of diagnosis assistance information related to acoronary artery disease using a first neural network model and obtaininga second piece of diagnosis assistance information related to an eyedisease using a second neural network model, the reconstructing of thetarget fundus image may include obtaining a first reconstructed fundusimage obtained by reconstructing the target fundus image so that bloodvessels are highlighted and a second reconstructed fundus image obtainedby reconstructing the target fundus image so that optic discs arehighlighted.

Although the case in which a target fundus image is reconstructed andthen a first piece of diagnosis assistance information and/or a secondpiece of diagnosis assistance information are obtained on the basis ofthe reconstructed image has been described above with reference to FIG.58, this is merely an example, and the reconstructing may be omitted.

The obtaining of the first piece of diagnosis assistance information viathe first neural network model (S7005) may be performed by a controlunit or a processor. The obtaining of the second piece of diagnosisassistance information via the second neural network model (S7007) maybe performed by a control unit or a processor. The obtaining of thefirst piece of diagnosis assistance information (S7005) and theobtaining of the second piece of diagnosis assistance information(S7007) may be performed by the same processor or performed bydifferentiated processors. The obtaining of the first piece of diagnosisassistance information and the obtaining of the second piece ofdiagnosis assistance information may be performed concurrently orsequentially.

For example, the obtaining of the first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation via the first neural network model may include obtaining afirst piece of diagnosis assistance information including a first typeof information related to a first heart disease, and the obtaining ofthe second piece of diagnosis assistance information via the secondneural network model may include obtaining a second piece of diagnosisassistance information including a second type of information related tothe first heart disease.

As a specific example, the obtaining of the first piece of diagnosisassistance information via the first neural network model may includeobtaining score information which indicates a calcium score used indiagnosis of a coronary artery disease, and the obtaining of the secondpiece of diagnosis assistance information via the second neural networkmodel may include obtaining grade information which indicates an extentof risk of a coronary artery disease.

As another example, the obtaining of the first piece of diagnosisassistance information via the first neural network model may includeobtaining a first piece of diagnosis assistance information related to afirst heart disease, and the obtaining of the second piece of diagnosisassistance information via the second neural network model may includeobtaining a second piece of diagnosis assistance information related toa second heart disease (or a non-heart disease).

Each of the obtaining of the diagnosis assistance information using theneural network model may be performed similarly as that described abovein “Assisting in heart disease diagnosis using neural network model”section.

The outputting of the diagnosis assistance information (S7009) may beperformed by a control unit or a processor. The above description in“Output of diagnosis assistance information” section may similarly applyto the outputting of the diagnosis assistance information unlessparticularly mentioned otherwise.

The outputting of the diagnosis assistance information (S7009) mayinclude outputting the first piece of diagnosis assistance informationand/or the second piece of diagnosis assistance information. Theoutputting of the diagnosis assistance information may includeoutputting final diagnosis assistance information generated on the basisof the first piece of diagnosis assistance information and the secondpiece of diagnosis assistance information. Alternatively, the outputtingof the diagnosis assistance information (S7009) may include outputtinginformation selected from the first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation and the second piece of diagnosis assistance information.

The outputting of the diagnosis assistance information will be describedin more detail below.

2.4.4 Output of Plurality of Pieces of Diagnosis Assistance Information

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality ofpieces of diagnosis assistance information obtained via a plurality ofneural network models which are driven in parallel may be output.Hereinafter, output of diagnosis assistance information will bedescribed on the basis of the above-described case in which a firstpiece of diagnosis assistance information is obtained using a firstneural network model and a second piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation is obtained using a second neural network model.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, output informationmay be determined on the basis of a first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation and/or a second piece of diagnosis assistance information.The output information may be provided to a user or transmitted to anexternal device. The output information may be provided to a user via aclient device, a diagnostic device, or a mobile device. The outputinformation may be provided to a user via a user interface. The outputinformation may be provided to a user via visual and/or aural data. Theoutput information may be transmitted to an external device via acommunication unit or a communication interface configured to performwired or wireless communication. The output information may betransmitted to a server device, a client device, or a mobile device.

The output diagnosis assistance information may include a first piece ofdiagnosis assistance information obtained by a first neural networkmodel and a second piece of diagnosis assistance information obtained bya second neural network model.

For example, the output diagnosis assistance information may be scoreinformation related to a coronary artery disease that is obtained by afirst neural network model and risk grade information related to acoronary artery disease that is obtained by a second neural networkmodel. Also, for example, the output diagnosis assistance informationmay be score information related to a coronary artery disease that isobtained by a first neural network model and risk grade informationrelated to stroke (or an eye disease such as glaucoma) that is obtainedby a second neural network model. Also, for example, the outputdiagnosis assistance information may be prescription information (forexample, prescription information on HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors)according to score information (for example, an ASCVD score) obtained bya first neural network model and grade information (for example,coronary artery disease risk grade information) obtained by a secondneural network model.

The output diagnosis assistance information may be information selectedfrom a first piece of diagnosis assistance information obtained by afirst neural network model and a second piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation obtained by a second neural network model.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, diagnosisassistance information selected from a plurality of pieces of diagnosisassistance information obtained by a plurality of neural network modelsmay be output. For example, the output diagnosis assistance informationmay be diagnosis assistance information selected from a first piece ofdiagnosis assistance information and a second piece of diagnosisassistance information. The output diagnosis assistance information maybe diagnosis assistance information selected, on the basis of accuracyor an extent of risk, from a plurality of pieces of diagnosis assistanceinformation.

In some cases, a first neural network model and/or a second neuralnetwork model may be continuously trained and updated. As the firstneural network model and/or the second neural network model are trained,the output information may be changed. In other words, as the firstneural network model and/or the second neural network model are updated,the number of pieces of training data input to each neural network modelor the accuracy of each neural network model may be changed, andaccordingly, the form of the output information may also be changed.

For example, output information that is output on the basis of a firstpiece of diagnosis assistance information and a second piece ofdiagnosis assistance information which are obtained on the basis of afirst target fundus image may be a first type of information (forexample, grade information) included in the first piece of diagnosisassistance information, and output information that is output on thebasis of a first piece of diagnosis assistance information and a secondpiece of diagnosis assistance information which are obtained on thebasis of a second target fundus image after the first type ofinformation is obtained may be a second type of information (forexample, score information) included in the second piece of diagnosisassistance information.

In some cases, pieces of information indicated by the first piece ofdiagnosis assistance information and the second piece of diagnosisassistance information may be logically inconsistent. In this case, theoutput diagnosis assistance information may be information selected fromthe first piece of diagnosis assistance information and the second pieceof diagnosis assistance information.

For example, when the first piece of diagnosis assistance information isa first type of information related to a first heart disease and thesecond piece of diagnosis assistance information is a second type ofinformation related to the first heart disease, extents of risk that thefirst type of information and the second type of information indicatemay be different from each other. In this case, the output diagnosisassistance information may be a type of information according to apredetermined order of priority or may be a type of informationdetermined according to predetermined criteria.

The output diagnosis assistance information may be set according to anorder of priority. The order of priority may be set in relation to typesof information. For example, the order of priority may be set such thatdisease presence/absence information has a higher priority than gradeinformation and the grade information has a higher priority than scoreinformation. The order of priority may be designated by a user. Theorder of priority may be predetermined according to the form or accuracyof a neural network model.

According to an embodiment, when the first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation and the second piece of diagnosis assistance informationmatch each other, the output diagnosis assistance information mayinclude the first piece of diagnosis assistance information and thesecond piece of diagnosis assistance information, and when the firstpiece of diagnosis assistance information and the second piece ofdiagnosis assistance information do not match each other, the outputdiagnosis assistance information may include information having a higherpriority between the first piece of diagnosis assistance information andthe second piece of diagnosis assistance information.

The output diagnosis assistance information may be information withhigher accuracy between the first type of information and the secondtype of information. In other words, a higher output priority may beassigned to information obtained from a neural network model withrelatively higher accuracy.

The output diagnosis assistance information may be information whichindicates a higher extent of risk between the first type of informationand the second type of information. In other words, a higher outputpriority may be assigned to information indicating a relatively higherextent of risk.

For example, when the first type of information is grade informationindicating an extent of risk of a coronary artery disease and the secondtype of information is score information indicating a calcium score fordiagnosis of a coronary artery disease, in the case in which the scoreinformation has a value indicating that a patient has a mild risk of acoronary artery disease, e.g., a value of 8, and the grade informationis Grade C information indicating that the patient has a moderate riskof the coronary artery disease, the Grade C information may bedetermined as the output diagnosis assistance information.

A first piece of diagnosis assistance information having a higherpriority and a second piece of diagnosis assistance information having alower priority may also be provided together. In this case, a noticethat informs a user of the order of priority may be provided together.

When pieces of information that the first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation and the second piece of diagnosis assistance informationindicate are logically inconsistent, the first piece of diagnosisassistance information and/or the second piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation may be corrected so that the meanings thereof becomelogically consistent. In other words, the output diagnosis assistanceinformation may include a first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation and a second piece of diagnosis assistance information whichis corrected.

In this case, according to reference information determined according toa predetermined order of priority, another piece of information may becorrected. For example, when grade information has a higher prioritythan score information, and grade information according to the obtainedfirst piece of diagnosis assistance information and score informationaccording to the second piece of diagnosis assistance information do notmatch each other, the score information may be corrected with the gradeinformation as the reference information.

In other words, when the first piece of diagnosis assistance informationand the second piece of diagnosis assistance information match eachother, the output diagnosis assistance information may include the firstpiece of diagnosis assistance information and the second piece ofdiagnosis assistance information, and when the first piece of diagnosisassistance information and the second piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation do not match each other, the output diagnosis assistanceinformation may include a first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation, which is determined as the reference information, and asecond piece of diagnosis assistance information which is correctedcorresponding to the first piece of diagnosis assistance information.

The corrected information may be corrected to match the referenceinformation. For example, when the reference information is Grade Binformation as grade information, score information may be corrected tohave a numerical value ranging from 1 to 10 to match the gradeinformation. The output diagnosis assistance information may include theGrade B information and the score information having a value correctedto 10 to match the Grade B.

The corrected information may be corrected to have a meaning closer tothat of the reference information. For example, when the referenceinformation is Grade B information as grade information and the obtainedscore information is 14, the output diagnosis assistance information mayinclude the Grade B information and score information having a valuecorrected to 11 to be closer to the Grade B.

When the corrected information is output together with the referenceinformation, display information for informing the user of the referenceinformation and the corrected information may also be output together.

The output diagnosis assistance information may be determined on thebasis of the first piece of diagnosis assistance information obtained bythe first neural network model and the second piece of diagnosisassistance information obtained by the second neural network model. Theoutput diagnosis assistance information may include secondaryinformation determined in consideration of the first piece of diagnosisassistance information and/or the second piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation.

For example, when the first piece of diagnosis assistance information isscore information which indicates a value of a first parameter used indiagnosis of a first heart disease, and the second piece of diagnosisassistance information is grade information which indicates a secondparameter related to the first heart disease, the output diagnosisassistance information may include information on an extent of risk ofthe first heart disease for a patient that is determined on the basis ofthe first piece of diagnosis assistance information and the second pieceof diagnosis assistance information.

Also, for example, when the first piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation is a first piece of score information used in diagnosis of afirst heart disease, and the second piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation is a second piece of score information related to the firstheart disease, the output diagnosis assistance information may be athird piece of score information obtained in consideration of both thefirst piece of score information and the second piece of scoreinformation. For example, the first piece of score information and/orthe second piece of score information may be factors used in Framinghamscore calculation, and the third piece of score information may indicatea Framingham score value.

Meanwhile, although the case in which a plurality of neural networkmodels driven in parallel include a first neural network model and asecond neural network model has been described above, the presentinvention is not limited thereto, and a larger number of neural networkmodels may be trained in parallel, a plurality of pieces of diagnosisassistance information may be obtained using the trained neural networkmodels, and the obtained pieces of diagnosis assistance information maybe output.

For example, a diagnosis assistance method may include obtaining a firstpiece of diagnosis assistance information via a first neural networkmodel, obtaining a second piece of diagnosis assistance information viaa second neural network model, and obtaining a third piece of diagnosisassistance information via a third neural network model.

In this case, the output diagnosis assistance information may be outputinformation which includes the first to third pieces of diagnosisassistance information, includes at least one piece of diagnosisassistance information selected from the first to third pieces ofdiagnosis assistance information, or is determined on the basis of thefirst to third pieces of diagnosis assistance information.

For example, when the first piece of diagnosis assistance information isa first type of information related to a first heart disease, the secondpiece of diagnosis assistance information is a second type ofinformation related to the first heart disease, and the third piece ofdiagnosis assistance information is diagnosis assistance informationrelated to a second heart disease, the output diagnosis assistanceinformation may include the third piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation and any one selected from the first piece of diagnosisassistance information and the second piece of diagnosis assistanceinformation.

2.5 Use of Binocular Images

2.5.1 Background

According to an embodiment of the present invention, binocular imagesmay be used in assisting in diagnosis. In the case of assisting indiagnosis of a heart disease, accurate and stable diagnosis assistancemay be possible by obtaining a left-eye image and a right-eye image of apatient and obtaining diagnosis assistance information based on eachimage.

In other words, when it is attempted to detect an abnormality in acardiovascular system on the basis of a fundus image, there may be acase in which an abnormal symptom is discovered only in one of aleft-eye fundus image and a right-eye fundus image or a case in whichabnormal symptoms indicated by the left-eye fundus image and theright-eye fundus image are different. In such cases, when diagnosisassistance information is only obtained in consideration of a fundusimage from which an abnormal symptom is not discovered or diagnosisassistance information is only obtained in consideration of a fundusimage indicating a relatively low extent of risk, a suitable action maynot be taken for a patient.

The above problem may occur in a similar manner in various cases inwhich it is attempted to assist in disease diagnosis using a fundusimage. Hereinafter, description will be given on the basis of the casein which a neural network model is used in order to assist in heartdisease diagnosis, but details of the invention described herein are notlimited thereto, and the above problem may similarly apply to variousother cases in which diagnosis assistance is performed using a fundusimage.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of a method in which a neural networkmodel is trained in consideration of binocular fundus images anddiagnosis assistance information is obtained in consideration of thebinocular fundus images in order to address the above problem will bedescribed.

2.5.2 Binocular Diagnosis Assistance System

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a heart diseasediagnosis assistance system that assists in heart disease diagnosis byusing binocular images together (hereinafter referred to as “binoculardiagnosis assistance system”) may be provided. The binocular diagnosisassistance system may train a neural network model using a left eyeimage and a right eye image or may obtain diagnosis assistanceinformation using the left eye image and the right eye image.

Unless particularly described otherwise, the binocular diagnosisassistance system that assists in heart disease diagnosis usingbinocular images may be implemented similarly as the diagnosisassistance system described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, 42,and 43.

FIG. 59 is a view for describing a diagnosis assistance system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 59, adiagnosis assistance system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include a training device 1002, a diagnostic device 2002,and a client device 3002.

The training device 1002 may include a binocular training unit 102. Thebinocular training unit 102 may obtain binocular images and train aneural network model for assisting in heart disease diagnosis. Thebinocular training unit 102 may be provided in a control unit, aprocessor, or a memory of the training device 1002.

The binocular training unit 102 may include fundus image training dataincluding a left-eye fundus image and a right-eye fundus image and maytrain a neural network model which outputs heart disease diagnosisassistance information on the basis of a fundus image. The binoculartraining unit 102 may train a neural network model which outputs heartdisease diagnosis assistance information of a patient on the basis offundus image training data including a fundus image labeled as left eyeor right eye. The binocular training unit 102 may train a neural networkmodel which outputs heart disease diagnosis assistance information of apatient on the basis of fundus image training data including a left-eyefundus image and a right-eye fundus image which are labeled as left eyeor right eye and are matched with each other.

The diagnostic device 2002 may include a binocular diagnostic unit 202.The binocular diagnostic unit 201 c may obtain diagnosis assistanceinformation for heart disease diagnosis of a patient by using a heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model. The diagnostic unit202 may be provided in a control unit or a processor of the diagnosticdevice 2002.

The binocular diagnostic unit 202 may obtain binocular fundus images ofa patient and obtain heart disease diagnosis assistance information ofthe patient. The binocular diagnostic unit 202 may obtain a left-eyefundus image and a right-eye fundus image of a patient and obtain heartdisease diagnosis assistance information of the patient. The binoculardiagnostic unit 202 may also obtain binocular diagnosis assistanceinformation which is obtained in consideration of both left-eye andright-eye fundus images of the patient. The binocular diagnostic unit202 may obtain left-eye diagnosis assistance information correspondingto the left-eye fundus image of the patient and right-eye diagnosisassistance information corresponding to the right-eye fundus image ofthe patient.

The binocular diagnostic unit 202 may obtain left-eye diagnosisassistance information and right-eye diagnosis assistance informationusing a single model. The binocular diagnostic unit 202 may obtainleft-eye diagnosis assistance information using a left-eye diagnosisassistance neural network model and may obtain right-eye diagnosisassistance information using a right-eye diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model.

The client device 3002 may include an imaging unit 301 and an outputunit 303. The client device 3002 may operate similarly as that describedabove. The client device 3002 may obtain a target fundus image, transmitthe obtained target fundus image to a diagnostic device, and obtaindiagnosis assistance information according to the target fundus imagefrom the diagnostic device.

FIG. 60 is a view for describing a diagnosis assistance system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 60, adiagnosis assistance system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include a training device 1003, a diagnostic device 2003,and a client device 3003.

Referring to FIG. 60, the training device 1003 may include a left eyetraining unit 103 a and a right eye training unit 103 b. Each of theleft eye training unit 103 a and the right eye training unit 103 b mayobtain fundus image training data including a left-eye or right-eyefundus image and train a neural network model which outputs diagnosisassistance information. The left eye training unit 103 a and the righteye training unit 103 b may also be included in the above-describedbinocular training unit. The left eye training unit 103 a and the righteye training unit 103 b may also be provided in a control unit, aprocessor, or a memory of the training device 1003.

The left eye training unit 103 a may use the fundus image training dataincluding the left eye image to train a left-eye diagnosis assistanceneural network model which obtains diagnosis assistance informationaccording to a target left-eye fundus image. The right eye training unit103 b may use the fundus image training data including a right eye imageto train a right-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model whichobtains diagnosis assistance information according to a target right-eyefundus image.

Initial forms of the left-eye diagnosis assistance neural network modeland the right-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model may beprovided in different layer structures. Alternatively, the initial formsof the left-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model and theright-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model may be provided insimilar structures. For example, the right-eye diagnosis assistanceneural network model and the left-eye diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model include at least some common layers which are common inboth models. In this case, parameters constituting each neural networkmodel may be changed as training is progressed.

Referring to FIG. 60, the diagnostic device 2003 may include a left-eyediagnostic unit 203 a and a right-eye diagnostic unit 203 b. Each of theleft-eye diagnostic unit 203 a and the right-eye diagnostic unit 203 bmay obtain diagnosis assistance information according to a left-eyefundus image and a right-eye fundus image by using a neural networkmodel. The left-eye diagnostic unit 203 a and the right-eye diagnosticunit 203 b may also be provided in a controller, a processor, or amemory of the diagnostic device 2003.

The left-eye diagnostic unit 203 a may obtain left eye diagnosisassistance information corresponding to a left-eye fundus image of apatient. The left-eye diagnostic unit 203 a may obtain left eyediagnosis assistance information using a left-eye diagnosis assistanceneural network model.

The right-eye diagnostic unit 203 b may obtain right eye diagnosisassistance information corresponding to a right-eye fundus image of thepatient. The right-eye diagnostic unit 203 b may obtain right eyediagnosis assistance information using a right-eye diagnosis assistanceneural network model.

The client device 3003 may operate similarly as that described above.The imaging unit 301 may obtain a left-eye fundus image and provide theobtained left-eye fundus image to the left-eye diagnostic unit 203 a.The imaging unit 301 may obtain a right-eye fundus image and provide theobtained right-eye fundus image to the right-eye diagnostic unit 203 b.The output unit 303 may obtain left eye diagnosis assistance informationfrom the left-eye diagnostic unit 203 a and output the obtained left eyediagnosis assistance information. The output unit 303 may obtain righteye diagnosis assistance information from the right-eye diagnostic unit203 b and output the obtained right eye diagnosis assistanceinformation.

FIG. 61 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 61, the method of assisting in heart disease diagnosis accordingto an embodiment of the present invention may include obtaining a targetleft-eye fundus image and a target right-eye fundus image (S510),obtaining left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information andright-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information (S530), andoutputting binocular heart disease diagnosis assistance information(S550).

The obtaining of the target left-eye fundus image and the targetright-eye fundus image (S510) may include obtaining a target left-eyefundus image and a target right-eye fundus image of a testee.

The obtaining of the left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation and right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information(S530) may include, by using a heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model which obtains heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of a fundus image, obtaining left-eye heartdisease diagnosis assistance information according to the targetleft-eye fundus image and right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation according to the target right-eye fundus image.

The outputting of the binocular heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation (S550) may include outputting binocular heart diseasediagnosis assistance information generated in consideration of theleft-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information.

The left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information may include atleast one of score information used in diagnosis of a target heartdisease, grade information which includes a grade selected from aplurality of grades indicating an extent of risk of a target heartdisease, and risk information indicating whether a test belongs to arisk group for a target heart disease.

The obtaining of the left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation and right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information(S530) may include obtaining left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation using a left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model which obtains heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of the left-eye fundus image and obtainingright-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information using aright-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model whichobtains heart disease diagnosis assistance information on the basis ofthe right-eye fundus image.

Meanwhile, in addition to the above-described method, the method ofassisting in heart disease diagnosis according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may further include, on the basis of the targetleft-eye fundus image and the target right-eye fundus image, obtainingleft-eye eye disease diagnosis assistance information according to thetarget left-eye fundus image and right-eye eye disease diagnosisassistance information according to the target right-eye fundus image byusing an eye disease diagnosis assistance neural network model whichobtains eye disease diagnosis assistance information and/or outputtingthe left-eye eye disease diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye eye disease diagnosis assistance information.

FIG. 62 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referringto FIG. 62, the outputting of the binocular heart disease diagnosisassistance information (S550) according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include determining whether the left-eye heart diseasediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye heart diseasediagnosis assistance information match each other (S551) and outputtingheart disease diagnosis assistance information determined according towhether the left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information andthe right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information match eachother (S553).

The outputting of the binocular heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation (S553) may include, when the left-eye heart diseasediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye heart diseasediagnosis assistance information match each other, outputting binocularheart disease diagnosis assistance information, which is determined asthe left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information, theright-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information, orintermediate information between the left-eye heart disease diagnosisassistance information and the right-eye heart disease diagnosisassistance information.

The outputting of the binocular heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation (S553) may further include, when the left-eye heart diseasediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye heart diseasediagnosis assistance information do not match each other, determiningone of the left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information andthe right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information thatindicates a relatively higher risk of a target heart disease as thebinocular heart disease diagnosis assistance information.

The left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information may includea left-eye coronary artery calcium score used in determining a degree ofaortic valve calcification that is obtained from the left-eye fundusimage, and the right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance informationmay include a right-eye coronary artery calcium score used indetermining a degree of aortic valve calcification that is obtained fromthe right-eye fundus image.

In this case, the determining of whether the left-eye heart diseasediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye heart diseasediagnosis assistance information match each other (S551) may includedetermining whether a difference between the left-eye coronary arterycalcium score and the right-eye coronary artery calcium score is athreshold value or less.

The outputting of the binocular heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation (S553) may include, when the difference between the left-eyecoronary artery calcium score and the right-eye coronary artery calciumscore is higher than the threshold value, determining a higher value ofthe left-eye coronary artery calcium score and the right-eye coronaryartery calcium score as the binocular heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation.

The outputting of the binocular heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation (S553) may include, when the difference between the left-eyecoronary artery calcium score and the right-eye coronary artery calciumscore is higher than the threshold value, determining informationincluding a higher value of the left-eye coronary artery calcium scoreand the right-eye coronary artery calcium score as the binocular heartdisease diagnosis assistance information, and outputting a notice, whichnotifies of the fact that a difference has occurred between the left-eyecoronary artery calcium score and the right-eye coronary artery calciumscore, together with the determined binocular heart disease diagnosisassistance information.

The outputting of the binocular heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation (S553) may include, when the difference between the left-eyecoronary artery calcium score and the right-eye coronary artery calciumscore is higher than the threshold value, determining a relativelyhigher value of the left-eye coronary artery calcium score and theright-eye coronary artery calcium score as the binocular heart diseasediagnosis assistance information, and outputting an abnormal fundusimage notice, which notifies a user of a target fundus image from whichinformation including a relatively higher value of the left-eye coronaryartery calcium score and the right-eye coronary artery calcium score isobtained, together with the determined binocular heart disease diagnosisassistance information.

FIG. 63 is a view for describing a heart disease diagnosis assistancedevice 7000 according to an embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 63, the heart disease diagnosis assistance device 7000that assists in diagnosis of a target heart disease using a fundus imageaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may include a fundusimage obtaining unit 7100, a left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation obtaining unit 7300, a right-eye heart disease diagnosisassistance information obtaining unit 7500, and a binocular heartdisease diagnosis assistance information output unit 7700.

The fundus image obtaining unit 7100 may obtain a target left-eye fundusimage and a target right-eye fundus image of a testee.

The left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information obtainingunit 7300 may obtain left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation according to the target left-eye fundus image by using aheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model which obtainsheart disease diagnosis assistance information on the basis of a fundusimage.

The right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information obtainingunit 7500 may obtain right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation according to the target right-eye fundus image by using theheart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model.

The binocular heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit7700 may output binocular heart disease diagnosis assistance informationgenerated in consideration of the left-eye heart disease diagnosisassistance information and the right-eye heart disease diagnosisassistance information.

The left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information may include atleast one of score information used in diagnosis of a target heartdisease, grade information including a grade selected from a pluralityof grades indicating an extent of risk of a target heart disease, andrisk information indicating whether a testee belongs to a risk group fora target heart disease.

The left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information obtainingunit 7300 may obtain the left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation using the left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model which obtains heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of the left-eye fundus image.

The right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information obtainingunit 7500 may obtain the right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation using the right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceneural network model which obtains heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of the right-eye fundus image.

The left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model maybe provided to output the left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of the left-eye fundus image obtained byimaging the left eye. The right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceneural network model may be provided to output the right-eye heartdisease diagnosis assistance information on the basis of the right-eyefundus image obtained by imaging the right eye. Parameters constitutingeach of the left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel and the right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may be at least partially different.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance device 7000 may further includean eye disease diagnosis assistance information obtaining unitconfigured to obtain left-eye eye disease diagnosis assistanceinformation according to the target left-eye fundus image and right-eyeeye disease diagnosis assistance information according to the targetright-eye fundus image by using an eye disease diagnosis assistanceneural network model which obtains eye disease diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of the target left-eye fundus image and thetarget right-eye fundus image.

FIG. 64 is a view for describing the heart disease diagnosis assistancedevice 7000 according to an embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 64, a binocular heart disease diagnosis informationoutput unit 7701 of the heart disease diagnosis assistance device 7000according to an embodiment of the present invention may include abinocular diagnosis assistance information matching determination unit7711 and a binocular heart disease diagnosis assistance informationobtaining unit 7731.

The binocular diagnosis assistance information matching determinationunit 7711 may determine whether the left-eye heart disease diagnosisassistance information and the right-eye heart disease diagnosisassistance information match each other.

The binocular heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit7731 may obtain and output binocular heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation determined according to whether the left-eye heart diseasediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye heart diseasediagnosis assistance information match each other.

The binocular heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit7731 may, when the left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation and the right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation match each other, obtain and output binocular heart diseasediagnosis assistance information, which is determined as the left-eyeheart disease diagnosis assistance information, the right-eye heartdisease diagnosis assistance information, or intermediate informationbetween the left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information andthe right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information.

The binocular heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit7731 may, when the left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation and the right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation do not match each other, determine one of the left-eye heartdisease diagnosis assistance information and the right-eye heart diseasediagnosis assistance information that indicates a relatively higher riskof a target heart disease as the binocular heart disease diagnosisassistance information. In other words, the binocular heart diseasediagnosis assistance information output unit 7731 may output binocularheart disease diagnosis assistance information, which is determined asone of the left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information andthe right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information thatindicates a relatively higher risk of the target heart disease.

The left-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance information may includea left-eye coronary artery calcium score used in determining a degree ofaortic valve calcification that is obtained from the left-eye fundusimage, and the right-eye heart disease diagnosis assistance informationmay include a right-eye coronary artery calcium score used indetermining a degree of aortic valve calcification that is obtained fromthe right-eye fundus image.

The binocular diagnosis assistance information matching determinationunit 7711 may determine whether a difference between the left-eyecoronary artery calcium score and the right-eye coronary artery calciumscore is a threshold value or less.

The binocular heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit7731 may, when the difference between the left-eye coronary arterycalcium score and the right-eye coronary artery calcium score is higherthan the threshold value, output binocular heart disease diagnosisassistance information, which is determined as a higher score of theleft-eye coronary artery calcium score and the right-eye coronary arterycalcium score.

The binocular heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit7731 may, when the difference between the left-eye coronary arterycalcium score and the right-eye coronary artery calcium score is higherthan the threshold value, determine information including a higher valueof the left-eye coronary artery calcium score and the right-eye coronaryartery calcium score as binocular heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation.

The binocular heart disease diagnosis assistance information output unit7731 may output a notice, which notifies of the fact that a differencehas occurred between the left-eye coronary artery calcium score and theright-eye coronary artery calcium score, together with the determinedbinocular heart disease diagnosis assistance information.

2.5.3 Obtaining Binocular Fundus Images

According to an embodiment of the present invention, binocular fundusimage training data for training a neural network model may be obtained.

The binocular fundus image data may include a left-eye fundus image anda right-eye fundus image. The binocular fundus image data may includeleft-eye fundus image data including a left-eye fundus image andright-eye fundus image data including a right-eye fundus image. Thebinocular fundus image data may include a left-eye fundus image and aright-eye fundus image which are matched with each other. In otherwords, the binocular fundus image data may include a plurality ofbinocular image sets each including a left-eye fundus image and aright-eye fundus image which are matched with each other.

For example, the binocular fundus image data may include a left-eyefundus image to which a left-eye label is assigned and a right-eye imageto which a right-eye label is assigned. Alternatively, the binocularfundus image data may also include a left eye image and a right eyeimage to which specific information indicating binocular information isnot assigned.

For example, the binocular fundus image data may include a first imageobtained by imaging the left eye of a testee and a second image obtainedby imaging the right eye of the testee. Also, for example, the binocularfundus image data may include a first fundus image obtained by imagingthe left eye of a first testee and labeled as left eye and a secondfundus image obtained by imaging the right eye of a second testee andlabeled as right eye. Also, for example, the binocular fundus image datamay include a first binocular image set which includes a first imageobtained by imaging the left eye of a first testee and labeled as theleft eye of the first testee and a second image obtained by imaging theright eye of the first testee and labeled as the right eye of the firsttestee.

The left-eye fundus image data and the right-eye fundus image data maybe separately stored and/or managed. Alternatively, the left-eye fundusimage data and the right-eye fundus image data may be stored and/ormanaged together and differentiated by labels assigned thereto.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, binocular targetfundus images for obtaining diagnosis assistance information may beobtained. For obtaining of diagnosis assistance information, a left-eyetarget fundus image and a right-eye target fundus image may be obtained.

The left-eye target fundus image (or left-eye fundus image) and theright-eye target fundus image (or right-eye fundus image) may beobtained via a user input. For example, the obtaining of the left-eyetarget fundus image may include obtaining a fundus image which isobtained by imaging after a user input, which indicates a start ofimaging the left eye, is obtained. The fundus image obtained by imagingafter the user input indicating the start of imaging the left eye isobtained may be determined as the left-eye target fundus image. Theleft-eye label may be assigned to the image determined as the left-eyetarget fundus image.

Alternatively, the left-eye fundus image and the right-eye fundus imagemay be differentiated via an algorithm provided in advance or a neuralnetwork model. The left-eye label or right-eye label may also beassigned via the algorithm provided in advance or the neural networkmodel.

2.5.4 Training Neural Network Model Using Binocular Fundus Image Data

The above-described diagnosis assistance system, training device, serverdevice, or mobile device may train a neural network model which assistsin heart disease diagnosis using binocular fundus image training data.The training unit, control unit, or processor of each device may performtraining of a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model.

The heart disease diagnosis assistance neural network model may betrained using training data including a left-eye fundus image and aright-eye fundus image. The heart disease diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may be trained using training data including a fundusimage labeled as left eye or right eye.

Hereinafter, on the basis of the above description, details unique tothe case in which a neural network model for assisting in heart diseasediagnosis is trained using binocular fundus images will be described.

FIG. 65 is a view for describing a training device according to anembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 65, a trainingdevice 1004 according to an embodiment of the present invention mayinclude a binocular training unit 104 c including a binocular dataprocessing module 114, a binocular diagnosis assistance neural networktraining module 134, and a binocular training result obtaining module154.

The binocular data processing module 114 may obtain fundus imagetraining data and process a fundus image included in the obtained fundusimage training data. For example, the binocular data processing module114 may reconstruct a fundus image into a form that facilitatesassisting in heart disease diagnosis. The binocular data processingmodule 114 may pre-process the fundus image so that blood vesselelements included therein are highlighted or extract blood vesselelements included in the fundus image. In addition, the binocular dataprocessing module 114 may perform various other image pre-processing,processing, or reconstructing operations described throughout thepresent specification. In some cases, the binocular data processingmodule 114 may be omitted.

The binocular diagnosis assistance neural network training module 134may train a binocular diagnosis assistance neural network model usingthe processed binocular fundus images. The binocular diagnosisassistance neural network training module 134 may output heart diseasediagnosis assistance information on the basis of input binocular fundusimages, compare the output heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation with labels assigned to the input binocular fundus images,and train the binocular diagnosis assistance neural network model.

For example, the binocular diagnosis assistance neural network trainingmodule 134 may output binocular diagnosis assistance information (orleft-eye diagnosis assistance information and right-eye diagnosisassistance information) by using binocular fundus image training dataincluding a left-eye fundus image and a right-eye fundus image to whichdiagnosis assistance labels are assigned and may train the binoculardiagnosis assistance neural network model on the basis of a comparisonbetween the output information and the labels.

As another example, the binocular diagnosis assistance neural networktraining module 134 may output diagnosis assistance information by usingbinocular fundus image training data including a left-eye fundus imageto which a diagnosis assistance label and a left-eye label are assignedand a right-eye fundus image to which a diagnosis assistance label and aright-eye label are assigned and may train the binocular diagnosisassistance neural network model on the basis of a comparison between theoutput information and the labels.

In this case, according to an embodiment of the present invention, apair of a left-eye fundus image and a right-eye fundus image mayconstitute a piece of unit training data. More specifically, thebinocular diagnosis assistance neural network training module 134 maycompare a first piece of diagnosis assistance information, which isoutput via a binocular diagnosis assistance neural network model on thebasis of a first piece of unit training data including a first left-eyefundus image and a first right-eye fundus image, and a first diagnosisassistance label assigned to the first left-eye fundus image and thefirst right-eye fundus image and may update the binocular diagnosisassistance neural network model on the basis of a result of thecomparison.

For example, the training of the binocular diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model on the basis of the first piece of unit training dataincluding the first left-eye fundus image and the first right-eye fundusimage may include comparing the first diagnosis assistance label withthe first piece of diagnosis assistance information obtained on thebasis of the first left-eye fundus image and the second piece ofdiagnosis assistance information obtained on the basis of the firstright-eye fundus image and updating the binocular diagnosis assistanceneural network model on the basis of a result of the comparison.

As a specific example, the binocular diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel may be trained to obtain calcium information for assisting indiagnosis of a coronary artery disease on the basis of binocular fundusimages. In this case, the training of the binocular diagnosis assistanceneural network model may include updating the binocular diagnosisassistance neural network model by comparing left-eye calciuminformation according to an input left-eye fundus image with a calciumscore label assigned to the input left-eye fundus image or comparingright-eye calcium information according to an input right-eye fundusimage with a calcium score label assigned to the input right-eye fundusimage.

As another specific example, when a left-eye fundus image and aright-eye fundus image constitute a piece of unit training data, thebinocular diagnosis assistance neural network model may comparebinocular calcium score information, which is obtained in considerationof both the input left-eye fundus image and the input right-eye fundusimage, with calcium score labels assigned to the input left-eye andright-eye images and then update the binocular diagnosis assistanceneural network model on the basis of a result of the comparison.

The binocular calcium information may be an average value, a maximumvalue, or a minimum value of a left-eye calcium score obtained on thebasis of the left-eye fundus image and a right-eye calcium scoreobtained on the basis of the right-eye fundus image. The binocularcalcium information may be calcium score information obtained with abinocular combination image, in which the left-eye fundus image and theright-eye fundus image are combined, as an input fundus image.

Meanwhile, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thebinocular diagnosis assistance neural network model may output binoculardiagnosis assistance information on the basis of left-eye diagnosisassistance information obtained from the left-eye fundus image andright-eye diagnosis assistance information obtained from the right-eyefundus image, but the form of the binocular diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may be different according to a method in which binoculardiagnosis assistance information is determined.

For example, the binocular diagnosis assistance neural network model maybe any one of a first binocular diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel which is trained so that a maximum value (or diagnosis assistanceinformation indicating that an extent of risk is relatively high) ofleft-eye diagnosis assistance information and right-eye diagnosisassistance information is determined as output binocular diagnosisassistance information, a second binocular diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model which is trained so that a minimum value (or diagnosisassistance information indicating that an extent of risk is relativelylow) of left-eye diagnosis assistance information and right-eyediagnosis assistance information is determined as output binoculardiagnosis assistance information, and a third binocular diagnosisassistance neural network model which is trained so that an averagevalue (or diagnosis assistance information indicating that an extent ofrisk is moderate) of left-eye diagnosis assistance information andright-eye diagnosis assistance information is determined as outputbinocular diagnosis assistance information. In this case, layers ortraining aspects of the first to third binocular diagnosis assistanceneural network models may be different from each other.

The binocular training result obtaining module 154 may obtain a resultof training the binocular diagnosis assistance neural network modelusing the binocular fundus image training data. The binocular trainingresult obtaining module 154 may obtain parameters of the trainedbinocular diagnosis assistance neural network model.

FIG. 66 is a view for describing a training device according to anembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 66, a trainingdevice 1005 may include a left-eye training unit 105 a, which includes aleft-eye data processing module 115 a, a left-eye diagnosis assistanceneural network training module 135 a, and a left-eye training resultobtaining module 155 a, and a right-eye training unit 105 b, whichincludes a right-eye data processing module 115 b, a right-eye diagnosisassistance neural network training module 135 b, and a right-eyetraining result obtaining module 155 b.

The above description related to parallel training of neural networkmodels may apply to training of a left-eye diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model and a right-eye diagnosis assistance neural network modelwhich will be described below with reference to FIG. 66.

The left-eye data processing module 115 a may obtain left-eye fundusimage training data including a left-eye fundus image and process theleft-eye fundus image. The left-eye data processing module 115 a mayalign directions of left-eye fundus images. The left-eye data processingmodule 115 a may align directions of left-eye fundus images included intraining data. The left-eye data processing module 115 a may reconstructor pre-process (for example, to highlight blood vessels) the left-eyefundus images included in the training data. The left-eye dataprocessing module 115 a may obtain an arbitrary fundus image andreconstruct the obtained arbitrary fundus image into a form of theleft-eye fundus image. For example, the left-eye data processing module115 a may obtain a right-eye fundus image and invert the fundus image180° in a vertical direction to modify the fundus image into the form ofthe left-eye fundus image. The left-eye data processing module 115 a maybe omitted.

The left-eye diagnosis assistance neural network training module 135 amay train a left-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model whichobtains left-eye diagnosis assistance information on the basis of aleft-eye fundus image by using left-eye fundus image training dataincluding processed left-eye fundus images. The left-eye diagnosisassistance neural network training module 135 a may obtain heart diseasediagnosis assistance information from an input left-eye fundus image viathe left-eye diagnosis assistance neural network, compare the obtainedinformation with a label assigned to the input fundus image, and updatethe left-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model.

The left-eye training result obtaining module 155 a may obtain a resultof training the left-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model usingleft-eye fundus image training data or parameters of the trainedleft-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model.

The right-eye data processing module 115 b may obtain right-eye fundusimage training data including a right-eye fundus image and process theright-eye fundus image. The right-eye data processing module 115 b mayreconstruct or process the right-eye fundus image. The right-eye dataprocessing module 115 b may operate similarly as the above-describedleft-eye data processing module 115 a.

The right-eye diagnosis assistance neural network training module 135 bmay train a right-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model whichobtains right-eye diagnosis assistance information on the basis of aright-eye fundus image by using right-eye fundus image training dataincluding processed right-eye fundus images. The right-eye diagnosisassistance neural network training module 135 b may obtain heart diseasediagnosis assistance information from an input right-eye fundus imagevia the right-eye diagnosis assistance neural network, compare theobtained information with a label assigned to the input fundus image,and update the right-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model.

The right-eye training result obtaining module 155 b may obtain a resultof training the right-eye diagnosis assistance neural network modelusing right-eye fundus image training data or parameters of the trainedright-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model.

FIG. 67 is a view for describing a method of training a diagnosisassistance neural network model according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 67, 67A is a flowchart for describing an operation ofa data obtaining module. 67B is a flowchart for describing an operationof a binocular data processing module. 67C is a flowchart for describingan operation of a binocular diagnosis assistance neural network trainingmodule. 67D is a flowchart for describing an operation of a binoculartraining result obtaining module. However, the operations illustrated in67A to 67D are not necessarily performed by the modules described above.For example, the operations described with reference to 67A to 67D mayalso be performed by a single module, for example, a binocular diagnosisassistance neural network training module.

Referring to FIG. 67, a method of training a diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may include obtaining binocular image training data(S8001), processing the obtained binocular images (S8003), training abinocular diagnosis assistance neural network on the basis of theprocessed binocular image (S8005), and obtaining a training result. Themethod of training a diagnosis assistance neural network model whichwill be described below may be performed by the above-described trainingdevice, training unit, control unit, or processor.

The obtaining of the binocular image training data (S8001) may includeobtaining binocular fundus image training data from an external deviceor loading binocular fundus image training data from a memory. Thebinocular image training data may include a plurality of fundus imageswhich are not labeled as left eye or right eye. The binocular imagetraining data may include a plurality of fundus images to which aleft-eye label or a right-eye label is assigned. The binocular imagetraining data may include a plurality of pieces of unit binoculartraining data each including a left-eye fundus image and a right-eyefundus image which are matched with each other. Diagnosis informationrelated to a heart disease may be labeled to the left-eye fundus image,the right-eye fundus image, or the unit binocular training data includedin the binocular image training data. For example, one or more labels ofa score label, a grade label, and a disease presence/absence labelrelated to a heart disease may be assigned to the left-eye fundus image,the right-eye fundus image, or the unit binocular training data includedin the binocular image training data.

The processing of the obtained binocular images (S8003) may includereconstructing the left-eye fundus image and/or the right-eye fundusimage included in the binocular fundus image training data. Theprocessing of the obtained binocular images may include reconstructingthe left-eye fundus image or the right-eye fundus image so that bloodvessel elements included therein are highlighted. The processing of theobtained binocular images (S8003) may be performed by theabove-described binocular data processing module.

The training of the binocular diagnosis assistance neural network on thebasis of the processed binocular images (S8005) may include training abinocular diagnosis assistance neural network model, which outputs heartdisease diagnosis assistance information (for example, coronary arteryscore information or coronary artery disease risk grade information)according to a left-eye fundus image or a right-eye fundus image, byusing training data including the left-eye fundus image or the right-eyefundus image. The training of the binocular diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork on the basis of the processed binocular images (S8005) mayinclude training a diagnosis assistance neural network model, whichoutputs heart disease diagnosis assistance information according to apair of fundus images, by using training data which includes a pluralityof pieces of unit training data each including a pair of a left-eyefundus image and a right-eye fundus image of the same person (that is,originated from the same testee). The training of the binoculardiagnosis assistance neural network (S8005) may be performed using theabove-described binocular diagnosis assistance neural network trainingmodule 131 c.

The obtaining of the training result (S8007) may include obtaining thetrained binocular diagnosis assistance neural network or parametersconstituting the trained binocular diagnosis assistance neural network.The obtaining of the training result (S8007) may be performed by theabove-described binocular training result obtaining module 151 c.

FIG. 68 is a view for describing a method of training a diagnosisassistance neural network model according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 68, 68A is a flowchart for describing an operation ofa data obtaining module. 68B is a flowchart for describing an operationof a binocular data processing module (or a left-eye data processingmodule and a right-eye data processing module). 68C is a flowchart fordescribing an operation of a left-eye diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork training module. 68D is a flowchart for describing an operationof a right-eye diagnosis assistance neural network training module. 68Emay be a flowchart for describing an operation of a training resultobtaining module (or a left-eye training result obtaining module and aright-eye training result obtaining module).

However, the operations illustrated in 68A to 68E are not necessarilyperformed by the modules described above. For example, the operationsdescribed with reference to 68A to 68E may also be performed by a singlemodule, for example, a binocular diagnosis assistance neural networktraining module.

Referring to FIG. 68, a method of training a diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may include obtaining binocular image training data(S9001), processing the obtained binocular images (S9003), training aleft-eye diagnosis assistance neural network (S9005), training aright-eye diagnosis assistance neural network (S9007), and obtaining atraining result (S9009). The method of training a diagnosis assistanceneural network model which will be described below may be performed bythe above-described training device, training unit, control unit, orprocessor.

The obtaining of the binocular image training data (S9001) may includeobtaining binocular fundus images including a left-eye fundus image anda right-eye fundus image. The binocular image training data may includeleft-eye fundus image training data and right-eye fundus image trainingdata. In other words, the binocular image training data may include theleft-eye fundus image training data and the right-eye fundus imagetraining data which are differentiated from each other. The binocularimage training data may include a left-eye fundus image to which aleft-eye label is assigned and a right-eye fundus image to which aright-eye label is assigned.

The obtaining of the binocular image training data (S9001) may beperformed by the data obtaining module and the binocular data processingmodule. The obtaining of the binocular image training data (S9001) maybe performed by each of the left-eye data processing module 111 d or theright-eye data processing module 115 b.

The processing of the binocular images (S9003) may include processingthe binocular images included in the binocular fundus image trainingdata. The processing of the binocular images included in the binocularfundus image training data may include converting a left-eye fundusimage or a right-eye fundus image included in the binocular fundus imagetraining data into a form that facilitates training of a neural networkmodel. The above description may analogically apply to thereconstructing, converting, or processing of the fundus image. Theprocessing of the binocular images (S9003) may be performed by thebinocular data processing module 111 c.

The processing of the binocular images (S9003) may include separatelyprocessing a left-eye fundus image and a right-eye fundus image. Inother words, the processing of the binocular images (S9003) may includeperforming left-eye fundus image pre-processing on the left-eye fundusimage and performing right-eye fundus image pre-processing on theright-eye fundus image. In this case, the pre-processing applied to theleft-eye fundus image may be different from the pre-processing appliedto the right-eye fundus image. For example, a pre-processing filterapplied to the left-eye fundus image and a pre-processing filter appliedto the right-eye fundus image may be provided in forms which areinverted 180° in the vertical direction from each other.

According to an embodiment, the processing of the binocular images(S9003) may include obtaining an arbitrary fundus image and convertingthe obtained arbitrary fundus image into the left-eye fundus imageand/or obtaining an arbitrary fundus image and converting the obtainedarbitrary fundus image into the right-eye fundus image.

The processing of the binocular images (S9003) may be performed by theleft-eye data processing module 111 d and the right-eye data processingmodule 115 b. The processing of the binocular images (S9003) may beomitted.

The training of the left-eye diagnosis assistance neural network (S9005)may include training a left-eye diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel, which outputs left-eye diagnosis assistance information on thebasis of the left-eye fundus image, by using the processed left-eyefundus image data. The training of the left-eye diagnosis assistanceneural network (S9005) may include obtaining left-eye diagnosisassistance information according to an input left-eye fundus image via aleft-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model, comparing theobtained left-eye diagnosis assistance information with a label assignedto the input left-eye fundus image, and updating the left-eye diagnosisassistance neural network model on the basis of a result of thecomparison. The training of the left-eye diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork (S9005) may be performed by the left-eye diagnosis assistanceneural network training module.

The training of the right-eye diagnosis assistance neural network(S9007) may include training a right-eye diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model, which outputs right-eye diagnosis assistance informationon the basis of the right-eye fundus image, by using the processedright-eye fundus image data. The training of the right-eye diagnosisassistance neural network (S9007) may include obtaining right-eyediagnosis assistance information according to an input right-eye fundusimage via a right-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model,comparing the obtained right-eye diagnosis assistance information with alabel assigned to the input right-eye fundus image, and updating theright-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model on the basis of aresult of the comparison. The training of the right-eye diagnosisassistance neural network (S9007) may be performed by the right-eyediagnosis assistance neural network training module.

The training of the left-eye diagnosis assistance neural network (S9005)and the training of the right-eye diagnosis assistance neural network(S9007) may be performed in parallel. The above description on theparallel training of neural network models may apply thereto.

The obtaining of the training result (S9009) may include obtaining thetrained left-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model and thetrained right-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model.Alternatively, the obtaining of the training result (S9009) may includeobtaining parameters constituting the trained left-eye diagnosisassistance neural network model and parameters constituting the trainedright-eye diagnosis assistance neural network model.

2.5.5 Assisting in Diagnosis Using Binocular Fundus Images

According to the present specification, a system, a device, or a methodfor obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistance information related toa testee by using binocular fundus images may be provided. By obtainingheart disease diagnosis assistance information using binocular imagesand providing the obtained heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation to a user, reliability of a diagnosis result may beimproved.

The above-described diagnosis assistance system, diagnostic device,server device, client device, or mobile device may use a trained heartdisease diagnosis assistance neural network model. The diagnostic unit,control unit, or processor of each device may perform diagnosisassistance using a heart disease diagnosis assistance neural networkmodel.

Hereinafter, on the basis of the above description, details unique tothe case in which heart disease diagnosis is assisted using binocularfundus images will be described.

FIG. 69 is a view for describing diagnostic device 2004 according to anembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 69, thediagnostic device 2004 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include a diagnostic unit 204 including a diagnosisrequest obtaining module 214, a binocular diagnosis assistance module234, and a binocular diagnosis assistance information output module 254.

The binocular diagnosis request obtaining module 214 may obtain adiagnosis request. The binocular diagnosis request obtaining module 214may obtain a diagnosis request that includes binocular fundus images (aleft-eye fundus image and a right-eye fundus image) and requests fordiagnosis assistance information related to the binocular fundus images.The binocular diagnosis request obtaining module 214 may sequentiallyobtain a target left-eye fundus image and a target right-eye fundusimage. The binocular diagnosis request obtaining module 214 maysequentially obtain a diagnosis request related to a target left-eyefundus image and a diagnosis request related to a target right-eyefundus image. The binocular diagnosis request obtaining module 214 mayobtain a diagnosis request that includes target binocular fundus imagedata, which includes a target left-eye fundus image and a targetright-eye fundus image, and requests for diagnosis assistanceinformation.

The binocular diagnosis assistance module 234 may obtain targetbinocular fundus images (or a target left-eye fundus image and a targetright-eye fundus image) and obtain heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation according to the obtained target binocular fundus images.

The binocular diagnosis assistance module 234 may use a binoculardiagnosis assistance neural network model which is trained to obtaindiagnosis assistance information for both target left-eye and right-eyefundus images. The binocular diagnosis assistance module 234 may obtaina target left-eye fundus image and obtain left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation related to the target left-eye fundus image via thebinocular diagnosis assistance neural network model. The binoculardiagnosis assistance module 234 may obtain a target right-eye fundusimage and obtain right-eye diagnosis assistance information related tothe target right-eye fundus image via the binocular diagnosis assistanceneural network model.

The binocular diagnosis assistance module 234 may use a binoculardiagnosis assistance neural network model which is trained to obtaindiagnosis assistance information on the basis of a unit target fundusimage including a left-eye fundus image and a right-eye fundus image.The binocular diagnosis assistance module 234 may obtain a unit targetfundus image including a left-eye fundus image and a right-eye fundusimage obtained by imaging a testee on the same date (or imaging thetestee within a reference period) and may obtain right-eye diagnosisassistance information related to the unit target fundus image via thebinocular diagnosis assistance neural network model. The unit targetfundus image may have a form in which a left-eye fundus image and aright-eye fundus image are combined or have a form in which features ofa left-eye fundus image and a right-eye fundus image are combined.

The binocular diagnosis assistance information output module 254 mayoutput the obtained binocular diagnosis assistance information. Thebinocular diagnosis assistance information output module 254 may outputleft-eye diagnosis assistance information obtained on the basis of aleft-eye fundus image or right-eye diagnosis assistance informationobtained on the basis of a right-eye fundus image. The binoculardiagnosis assistance information output module 254 may output theleft-eye diagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosisassistance information concurrently or sequentially.

The binocular diagnosis assistance information output module 254 maytransmit binocular diagnosis assistance information to an externaldevice or may store binocular diagnosis assistance information, left-eyediagnosis assistance information, or right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation in a separate memory. The binocular diagnosis assistanceinformation output module 254 may output binocular diagnosis assistanceinformation, left-eye diagnosis assistance information, or right-eyediagnosis assistance information via a user interface. The binoculardiagnosis assistance information output module 254 may output diagnosisassistance information in the form of visual or aural data.

Information output by the binocular diagnosis assistance informationoutput module 254 may be left-eye diagnosis assistance information,right-eye diagnosis assistance information, or binocular diagnosisassistance information. The output information may be secondaryinformation determined on the basis of the left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation, right-eye diagnosis assistance information, and/orbinocular diagnosis assistance information. This will be described inmore detail below in “Output of binocular diagnosis assistanceinformation” section.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the diagnosticdevice 2004 may operate in a left-eye diagnosis mode. The left-eyediagnosis mode may be started as the diagnostic device 2004 obtains aleft-eye diagnosis request or a binocular diagnosis request from a user.

In the left-eye diagnosis mode, the binocular diagnosis requestobtaining module 214 may obtain a left-eye diagnosis request from auser. In the left-eye diagnosis mode, the binocular diagnosis requestobtaining module 214 may obtain a left-eye diagnosis request thatrequests for a target left-eye fundus image and left-eye diagnosisassistance information.

In the left-eye diagnosis mode, the binocular diagnosis assistancemodule 234 may obtain a target left-eye fundus image and obtain heartdisease diagnosis assistance information according to the targetleft-eye fundus image via the binocular diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model.

In the left-eye diagnosis mode, the binocular diagnosis assistanceinformation output module 254 may output heart disease diagnosisassistance information related to the target left-eye fundus image. Forexample, the binocular diagnosis assistance information output module254 may output heart disease diagnosis assistance information related tothe target left-eye fundus image together with the target left-eyefundus image via a left-eye diagnosis information display unit of a userinterface.

When the left-eye diagnosis mode is obtained by a left-eye diagnosisrequest of a user, the binocular diagnosis assistance information outputmodule 254 may output left-eye diagnosis assistance information. Whenthe left-eye diagnosis mode is obtained by a binocular diagnosis requestof the user, the binocular diagnosis assistance information outputmodule 254 may output left-eye diagnosis assistance information togetherwith right-eye diagnosis assistance information.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the diagnosticdevice 2004 may operate in a right-eye diagnosis mode. The right-eyediagnosis mode may be started as the diagnostic device 2004 obtains aright-eye diagnosis request or a binocular diagnosis request from auser.

In the right-eye diagnosis mode, the binocular diagnosis requestobtaining module 214 may obtain a right-eye diagnosis request, forexample, a right-eye diagnosis request that requests for a targetright-eye fundus image and right-eye diagnosis assistance information.

In the right-eye diagnosis mode, the binocular diagnosis assistanceinformation output module 254 may output heart disease diagnosisassistance information related to the target right-eye fundus image. Forexample, the binocular diagnosis assistance information output module254 may output heart disease diagnosis assistance information related tothe target right-eye fundus image together with the target right-eyefundus image via a right-eye diagnosis information display unit of auser interface.

When the right-eye diagnosis mode is obtained by a right-eye diagnosisrequest of a user, the binocular diagnosis assistance information outputmodule 254 may output right-eye diagnosis assistance information, andwhen the right-eye diagnosis mode is obtained by a binocular diagnosisrequest of the user, the binocular diagnosis assistance informationoutput module 254 may output right-eye diagnosis assistance informationtogether with left-eye diagnosis assistance information

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the diagnosticdevice 2004 may operate in a binocular diagnosis mode. The binoculardiagnosis mode may be started as the diagnostic device 2004 obtains abinocular diagnosis request from a user.

In the binocular diagnosis mode, the binocular diagnosis requestobtaining module 214 may obtain a binocular diagnosis request from auser. In the binocular diagnosis mode, the binocular diagnosisassistance information output module 254 may output heart diseasediagnosis assistance information related to target binocular fundusimages (for example, target data including a left-eye fundus image and aright-eye fundus image which are matched with each other or a compositeimage generated on the basis of a left-eye fundus image and a right-eyefundus image which are matched with each other). For example, thebinocular diagnosis assistance information output module 254 may outputbinocular heart disease diagnosis assistance information obtained vianeural network models together with the target binocular fundus imagesvia a diagnosis information display unit of a user interface.

FIG. 70 is a view for describing a diagnostic device 2005 according toan embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 70, thediagnostic device 2005 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may include a left-eye diagnostic unit 205 a which includes aleft-eye diagnosis request obtaining module 215 a, a left-eye diagnosisassistance module 235 a, and a left-eye diagnosis assistance informationoutput module 255 a and a right-eye diagnostic unit 201 b which includesa right-eye diagnosis request obtaining module 215 b, a right-eyediagnosis assistance module 235 b, and a right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation output module 255 b.

The above description related to the parallel use of neural networkmodels may similarly apply to diagnosis assistance using a left-eyediagnosis assistance neural network model and a right-eye diagnosisassistance neural network model which will be described below withreference to FIG. 70.

The left-eye diagnosis request obtaining module 215 a may obtain aleft-eye diagnosis request that requests for diagnosis assistanceinformation corresponding to a left-eye fundus image. The left-eyediagnosis request obtaining module 215 a may obtain a left-eye fundusimage and a left-eye diagnosis request.

The left-eye diagnosis assistance module 235 a may obtain a targetleft-eye fundus image and obtain left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation, which is heart disease diagnosis assistance informationrelated to the target left-eye fundus image, by using a left-eyediagnosis assistance neural network model.

The left-eye diagnosis assistance information output module 255 a mayoutput the left-eye diagnosis assistance information.

The right-eye diagnosis request obtaining module 215 b may obtain aright-eye diagnosis request that requests for diagnosis assistanceinformation corresponding to a right-eye fundus image. The right-eyediagnosis request obtaining module 215 b may obtain a right-eye fundusimage and a right-eye diagnosis request.

The right-eye diagnosis assistance module 235 b may obtain a targetright-eye fundus image and obtain right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation, which is heart disease diagnosis assistance informationrelated to the target right-eye fundus image, by using a right-eyediagnosis assistance neural network model.

The right-eye diagnosis assistance information output module 255 b mayoutput the right-eye diagnosis assistance information. The right-eyediagnosis assistance information output module 255 b and the left-eyediagnosis assistance information output module 255 b may outputdiagnosis assistance information together. The right-eye diagnosisassistance information output module 255 b and the left-eye diagnosisassistance information output module 255 b may output diagnosisassistance information via a single user interface.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the diagnosticdevice 2005 may operate in a left-eye diagnosis mode. The left-eyediagnosis mode may be started as the diagnostic device 2005 obtains aleft-eye diagnosis request or a binocular diagnosis request from a user.

In the left-eye diagnosis mode, the left-eye diagnosis request obtainingmodule 215 a may obtain a left-eye fundus image, the left-eye diagnosisassistance module 235 a may obtain left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of the left-eye fundus image, and the left-eyediagnosis assistance information output module 255 b may output left-eyediagnosis assistance information.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the diagnosticdevice 2005 may operate in a right-eye diagnosis mode. The right-eyediagnosis mode may be started as the diagnostic device 2005 obtains aright-eye diagnosis request or a binocular diagnosis request from auser.

In the right-eye diagnosis mode, the right-eye diagnosis requestobtaining module 215 a may obtain a right-eye fundus image, theright-eye diagnosis assistance module 235 a may obtain right-eyediagnosis assistance information on the basis of the right-eye fundusimage, and the right-eye diagnosis assistance information output module255 a may output right-eye diagnosis assistance information.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the diagnosticdevice 2005 may operate in a binocular diagnosis mode. The binoculardiagnosis mode may be started as the diagnostic device 2005 obtains abinocular diagnosis request from a user.

In the binocular diagnosis mode, the left-eye diagnosis requestobtaining module 215 a may obtain a left-eye fundus image, the right-eyediagnosis request obtaining module 215 b may obtain a right-eye fundusimage, the left-eye diagnosis assistance module 235 b may obtainleft-eye diagnosis assistance information on the basis of the left-eyefundus image, the right-eye diagnosis assistance module 235 b may obtainright-eye diagnosis assistance information on the basis of the right-eyefundus image, the left-eye diagnosis assistance information outputmodule 255 b may output left-eye diagnosis assistance information, andthe right-eye diagnosis assistance information output module 255 b mayoutput right-eye diagnosis assistance information.

FIG. 71 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 71, 71A is a flowchart for describing an operation ofa data obtaining module (or a diagnosis request obtaining module). 71Bis a flowchart for describing an operation of a diagnosis assistancemodule. 71C is a flowchart for describing an operation of binoculardiagnosis assistance information output module. However, the operationsillustrated in 71A to 71C are not necessarily performed by the modulesdescribed above. For example, the operations described with reference to71A to 71C may also be performed by a single module, for example, abinocular diagnosis assistance module, or a processor or a control unitof a diagnostic device.

Referring to FIG. 71, a method of assisting in heart disease diagnosisaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may includeobtaining binocular diagnosis target images (S1101), obtaining left-eyediagnosis assistance information (S1103), obtaining right-eye diagnosisassistance information (S1105), and outputting diagnosis assistanceinformation (S1107). The method of assisting in heart disease diagnosisdescribed with reference to FIG. 71 may be entirely or partiallyperformed when a diagnostic device is in a left-eye diagnosis mode, aright-eye diagnosis mode, or a binocular diagnosis mode.

The obtaining of the binocular diagnosis target images (S1101) mayinclude obtaining a left-eye target fundus image and a right-eye targetfundus image. The obtaining of the binocular diagnosis target images(S1101) may include obtaining binocular diagnosis target images and adiagnosis request.

The obtaining of the left-eye diagnosis assistance information (S1103)may include obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistance informationrelated to the obtained left-eye target fundus image by using abinocular diagnosis assistance neural network model which is trained tooutput heart disease diagnosis assistance information according to afundus image. For example, the obtaining of the left-eye diagnosisassistance information (S1103) may include obtaining calcium scoreinformation related to the obtained left-eye target fundus image byusing the binocular diagnosis assistance neural network model.

The obtaining of the right-eye diagnosis assistance information (S1105)may include obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistance informationrelated to the obtained right-eye target fundus image by using thebinocular diagnosis assistance neural network model which is trained tooutput heart disease diagnosis assistance information according to afundus image. For example, the obtaining of the right-eye diagnosisassistance information (S1105) may include obtaining calcium scoreinformation related to the obtained right-eye target fundus image byusing the binocular diagnosis assistance neural network model.

The obtaining of the left-eye diagnosis assistance information (S1103)and the obtaining of the right-eye diagnosis assistance information(S1105) may be performed sequentially or partially concurrently, or theorder of performing the obtaining of the left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation (S1103) and the obtaining of the right-eye diagnosisassistance information (S1105) may be changed. The order of performingthe obtaining of the left-eye diagnosis assistance information (S1103)and the obtaining of the right-eye diagnosis assistance information(S1105) may be determined according to a user input.

The outputting of the diagnosis assistance information (S1107) mayinclude outputting the obtained left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation and right-eye diagnosis assistance information. Theoutputting of the diagnosis assistance information (S1107) may includeoutputting the obtained left-eye diagnosis assistance information andright-eye diagnosis assistance information sequentially or concurrently.The outputting of the diagnosis assistance information (S1107) mayinclude outputting the obtained left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation and right-eye diagnosis assistance information via a userinterface.

The outputting of the diagnosis assistance information (S1107) mayinclude determining output diagnosis assistance information inconsideration of the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye diagnosis assistance information.

The output diagnosis assistance information may be diagnosis assistanceinformation selected from the left-eye diagnosis assistance informationand the right-eye diagnosis assistance information. The output diagnosisassistance information may be diagnosis assistance information selectedaccording to a predetermined order of priority. The output diagnosisassistance information may be reference diagnosis assistanceinformation, which is selected from the left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation and the right-eye diagnosis assistance information, and theremaining diagnosis assistance information, which is correctedcorresponding to the reference diagnosis assistance information.

The output diagnosis assistance information may be secondary diagnosisassistance information which is generated on the basis of the left-eyediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation. The output diagnosis assistance information may beprescription information, instruction information, or the like generatedon the basis of the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye diagnosis assistance information.

Meanwhile, the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye diagnosis assistance information may be logically inconsistentin some cases.

For example, when the left-eye or right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation is disease presence/absence information, the left-eyediagnosis assistance information may be abnormality informationindicating that a testee has a target disease, and the right-eyediagnosis assistance information may be normality information indicatingthat the testee does not have the target disease. Also, for example,when the left-eye or right-eye diagnosis assistance information is gradeinformation, the left-eye diagnosis assistance information may be GradeB information indicating that a testee belongs to a mild risk group, andthe right-eye diagnosis assistance information may be Grade Cinformation indicating that the testee belongs to a moderate risk group.Also, for example, when the left-eye or right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation is score information, the left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation may be score information indicating that a score forassisting in heart disease diagnosis of a testee is 5, and the right-eyediagnosis assistance information may be score information indicatingthat a score for assisting in heart disease diagnosis of the testee is12.

Hereinafter, some embodiments will be described in relation to theoutputting of the diagnosis assistance information (S1107) whichincludes determining output diagnosis assistance information inconsideration of the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye diagnosis assistance information, when the case in which theleft-eye diagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosisassistance information are logically inconsistent as in the above casesare taken in to consideration.

For example, the outputting of the diagnosis assistance information(S1107) may include comparing the left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation and the right-eye diagnosis assistance information anddetermining the output diagnosis assistance information in considerationof a result of comparing the left-eye diagnosis assistance informationand the right-eye diagnosis assistance information.

The determining of the output diagnosis assistance information inconsideration of the result of the comparison may include, when theleft-eye diagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosisassistance information are logically consistent, determining theleft-eye diagnosis assistance information, the right-eye diagnosisassistance information, or intermediate information (a median) betweenthe left-eye diagnosis assistance information and the right-eyediagnosis assistance information as the output diagnosis assistanceinformation.

The determining of the output diagnosis assistance information inconsideration of the result of the comparison may include, when theleft-eye diagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosisassistance information are logically inconsistent, determining any oneselected from the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye diagnosis assistance information as the output diagnosisassistance information. Alternatively, the determining of the outputdiagnosis assistance information in consideration of the result of thecomparison may include, when the left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation and the right-eye diagnosis assistance information arelogically inconsistent, determining any one selected from the left-eyediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation according to a predetermined order of priority as the outputdiagnosis assistance information.

For example, when the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye diagnosis assistance information are logically inconsistent,information indicating a higher extent of risk of the left-eye diagnosisassistance information and the right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation may be determined as the output diagnosis assistanceinformation.

As a specific example, when left-eye heart disease risk gradeinformation obtained on the basis of the left-eye fundus image andright-eye heart disease risk grade information obtained on the basis ofthe right-eye fundus image are logically consistent, the heart diseaserisk grade information may be determined as the output diagnosisassistance information, and when the left-eye heart disease risk gradeinformation and the right-eye heart disease risk grade information arelogically inconsistent, grade information among the two pieces ofinformation that indicates that a testee has a higher risk may bedetermined as the output diagnosis assistance information.

For example, when the left-eye heart disease risk grade information isGrade A information indicating that a testee belongs to a normal group,and the right-eye heart disease risk grade information is Grade Binformation indicating that the testee belongs to a mild risk group, theGrade B information may be determined as the output diagnosis assistanceinformation.

As another specific example, when left-eye heart diseasepresence/absence information obtained on the basis of a left-eye fundusimage and right-eye heart disease presence/absence information obtainedon the basis of a right-eye fundus image are logically consistent, theheart disease presence/absence information may be determined as theoutput diagnosis assistance information, and when the left-eye heartdisease presence/absence information and the right-eye heart diseasepresence/absence information are logically inconsistent, the diseasepresence/absence information indicating that a testee belongs to a riskgroup may be determined as the output diagnosis assistance information.

For example, when the left-eye heart disease presence/absenceinformation is normality information indicating that the testee belongsto a normal group, and the right-eye heart disease presence/absenceinformation is abnormality information indicating that the testeebelongs to an abnormal group, the abnormality diagnosis assistanceinformation may be determined as the output diagnosis assistanceinformation.

The determining of the output diagnosis assistance information inconsideration of the result of the comparison may include determiningwhether a difference between the left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation and the right-eye diagnosis assistance information exceeds athreshold value.

The determining of the output diagnosis assistance information inconsideration of the result of the comparison may include, when thedifference between the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye diagnosis assistance information exceeds a threshold value,determining the output diagnosis assistance information in the samemanner as when the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye diagnosis assistance information are logically inconsistent.The determining of the output diagnosis assistance information inconsideration of the result of the comparison may include, when thedifference between the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye diagnosis assistance information exceeds a threshold value,determining any one selected from the left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation and the right-eye diagnosis assistance information as theoutput diagnosis assistance information.

The determining of the output diagnosis assistance information inconsideration of the result of the comparison may include, when thedifference between the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye diagnosis assistance information does not exceed a thresholdvalue, determining the output diagnosis assistance information in thesame manner as when the left-eye diagnosis assistance information andthe right-eye diagnosis assistance information are logically consistent.The determining of the output diagnosis assistance information inconsideration of the result of the comparison may include, when thedifference between the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye diagnosis assistance information does not exceed a thresholdvalue, determining the left-eye diagnosis assistance information, theright-eye diagnosis assistance information, or intermediate information(median) between the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye diagnosis assistance information as the output diagnosisassistance information.

As another example, the outputting of the diagnosis assistanceinformation (S1107) may include determining whether the left-eyediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation match each other and determining output diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of a result of the determination.

The determining of the output diagnosis assistance information on thebasis of the result of the determination may include, when the left-eyediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation match each other, determining the diagnosis assistanceinformation as the output diagnosis assistance information.Alternatively, the determining of the output diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of the result of the determination may include,when the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and the right-eyediagnosis assistance information match each other, determining theleft-eye diagnosis assistance information, the right-eye diagnosisassistance information, or intermediate information (median) between theleft-eye diagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosisassistance information as the output diagnosis assistance information.Alternatively, the determining of the output diagnosis assistanceinformation on the basis of the result of the determination may include,when the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and the right-eyediagnosis assistance information match each other, determininginformation having a maximum value or information having a minimum valueamong the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and the right-eyediagnosis assistance information as the output diagnosis assistanceinformation.

The determining of the output diagnosis assistance information on thebasis of the result of the determination may include, when the left-eyediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation do not match each other, determining the left-eye diagnosisassistance information, the right-eye diagnosis assistance information,or intermediate information (median or average) between the left-eyediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation as the output diagnosis assistance information. Thedetermining of the output diagnosis assistance information on the basisof the result of the determination may include, when the left-eyediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation do not match each other, determining information having amaximum value or information having a minimum value among the left-eyediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation as the output diagnosis assistance information.

The determining of the output diagnosis assistance information on thebasis of the result of the determination may include, when the left-eyediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation do not match each other, determining any one selected fromthe left-eye diagnosis assistance information and the right-eyediagnosis assistance information as the output diagnosis assistanceinformation. For example, when the left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation and the right-eye diagnosis assistance information do notmatch each other, information indicating a higher extent of risk amongthe left-eye diagnosis assistance information and the right-eyediagnosis assistance information may be determined as the outputdiagnosis assistance information.

As a specific example, when left-eye score information, which isleft-eye diagnosis assistance information, indicating a heart diseasediagnosis assistance score obtained on the basis of a left-eye image ofa testee and right-eye score information, which is right-eye diagnosisassistance information, indicating a heart disease diagnosis assistancescore obtained on the basis of a right-eye image of the testee matcheach other, the right-eye score information, the left-eye scoreinformation, or an average value between the right-eye score informationand the left-eye score information may be determined as the output scoreinformation. When the right-eye score information and the left-eye scoreinformation do not match each other, score information indicating ahigher extent of risk may be determined as the output score information.

Whether the right-eye score information and the left-eye scoreinformation match each other may be determined on the basis ofpredetermined criteria. For example, the determining of whether theright-eye score information and the left-eye score information matcheach other may include, by using the grade-score relationship tableillustrated in FIG. 32, determining that the left-eye score informationand the right-eye score information match each other when the left-eyescore information and the right-eye score information match the samegrade and determining that the left-eye score information and theright-eye score information do not match each other when the left-eyescore information and the right-eye score information match differentgrades.

The above embodiments have been described on the basis of the cases inwhich, in order to provide a more stable diagnosis assistance result toa testee, information indicating a higher extent of risk is selected andoutput when information that the left eye indicates and information thatthe right eye indicates are logically inconsistent, but the inventiondisclosed herein is not limited thereto. For example, when an extent ofrisk tends to be determined to be higher than reality when a closeexamination is complex or when the determination performed via a neuralnetwork model, diagnosis assistance information indicating a lower riskmay also be determined as the output diagnosis assistance informationand be output.

FIG. 72 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 72, 72A is a flowchart for describing an operation ofa data obtaining module (or a diagnosis request obtaining module). 72Bis a flowchart for describing an operation of a binocular diagnosisassistance module. 72C is a flowchart for describing an operation of abinocular diagnosis assistance information output module. However, theoperations illustrated in 72A to 72C are not necessarily performed bythe modules described above. For example, the operations described withreference to 72A to 72C may also be performed by a single module, forexample, a binocular diagnosis assistance module, or a processor or acontrol unit of a diagnostic device.

Referring to FIG. 72, a method of assisting in heart disease diagnosisaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may includeobtaining binocular diagnosis target images (S1201), obtaining binoculardiagnosis assistance information (S1203), and outputting diagnosisassistance information (S1205). The method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis described with reference to FIG. 72 may be entirely orpartially performed when a diagnostic device is in a left-eye diagnosismode, a right-eye diagnosis mode, or a binocular diagnosis mode.

The obtaining of the binocular diagnosis target images (S1201) mayinclude obtaining a binocular diagnosis request including a left-eyefundus image and a right-eye fundus image of a testee.

The obtaining of the binocular diagnosis assistance information (S1203)may include obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistance informationrelated to the testee from target binocular fundus images by using abinocular diagnosis assistance neural network model which is trained tooutput heart disease diagnosis assistance information with binocularfundus images as inputs. The binocular diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may be a neural network model which is trained to outputheart disease diagnosis assistance information of the testee withbinocular target fundus images, which include a left-eye fundus imageand a right-eye fundus image which are matched with each other (in otherwords, which are obtained by imaging the same person in the sameperiod), as inputs. The obtaining of the binocular diagnosis assistanceinformation (S1203) may include obtaining binocular heart diseasediagnosis assistance information, e.g., binocular calcium information,binocular grade information, or binocular disease presence/absenceinformation, according to the target binocular fundus images by usingthe trained binocular diagnosis assistance neural network model.

The outputting of the diagnosis assistance information (S1205) mayinclude outputting the obtained binocular diagnosis assistanceinformation or secondary information obtained on the basis of thebinocular diagnosis assistance information. The outputting of thediagnosis assistance information may be performed similarly as thatdescribed above.

FIG. 73 is a view for describing a method of assisting in heart diseasediagnosis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A of FIG. 73 is a flowchart for describing an example of an operation ofa data obtaining module (or a diagnosis request obtaining module). 73Bis a flowchart for describing an example of an operation of a left-eyediagnosis assistance module. 73C is a flowchart for describing anexample of an operation of a right-eye diagnosis assistance module. 73Dis a flowchart for describing an example of an operation of a binoculardiagnosis assistance information output module. However, the operationsillustrated in 73A to 73D are not necessarily performed by the modulesdescribed above. For example, the operations illustrated in 73A to 73Dmay also be performed by a single module, for example, a binoculardiagnosis assistance module, or a processor or a control unit of adiagnostic device.

Referring to FIG. 73, a method of assisting in heart disease diagnosisaccording to an embodiment of the present invention may includeobtaining binocular diagnosis target images (S1301), obtaining left-eyediagnosis assistance information (S1303), obtaining right-eye diagnosisassistance information (S1305), and outputting diagnosis assistanceinformation (S1307). The method of assisting in heart disease diagnosisdescribed with reference to FIG. 73 may be entirely or partiallyperformed when a diagnostic device is in a left-eye diagnosis mode, aright-eye diagnosis mode, or a binocular diagnosis mode.

The obtaining of the binocular diagnosis target images (S1301) mayinclude obtaining a left-eye fundus image and a right-eye fundus image.The obtaining of the binocular diagnosis target images (S1301) mayinclude obtaining a diagnosis request related to the left-eye fundusimage and/or a diagnosis request related to the right-eye fundus image.

The obtaining of the left-eye diagnosis assistance information (S1303)may include obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistance informationrelated to the left-eye target fundus image, e.g., left-eye calciuminformation, left-eye grade information, or left-eye diseasepresence/absence information, by using a left-eye diagnosis assistanceneural network model which is trained to output heart disease diagnosisassistance information according to the left-eye fundus image. Forexample, the obtaining of the left-eye diagnosis assistance information(S1303) may include obtaining calcium score information related to theleft-eye target fundus image by using the left-eye diagnosis assistanceneural network model.

The obtaining of the right-eye diagnosis assistance information (S1305)may include obtaining heart disease diagnosis assistance informationrelated to the obtained right-eye target fundus image, e.g., right-eyecalcium information, right-eye grade information, or right-eye diseasepresence/absence information, by using a right-eye diagnosis assistanceneural network model which is trained to output heart disease diagnosisassistance information according to the right-eye fundus image. Forexample, the obtaining of the right-eye diagnosis assistance information(S1305) may include obtaining calcium score information related to theright-eye target fundus image by using the right-eye diagnosisassistance neural network model.

The obtaining of the left-eye diagnosis assistance information (S1303)and the obtaining of the right-eye diagnosis assistance information(S1305) may be performed in parallel. The left-eye diagnosis assistanceneural network model and the right-eye diagnosis assistance neuralnetwork model may be provided and used in parallel. The above-describeddetails related to the parallel diagnosis assistance system may apply tothe parallel heart disease diagnosis assistance using the left-eyediagnosis assistance neural network model and the right-eye diagnosisassistance neural network model.

The outputting of the diagnosis assistance information (S1307) mayinclude outputting the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye diagnosis assistance information or outputting secondaryinformation generated on the basis of the left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation and the right-eye diagnosis assistance information.

The left-eye diagnosis assistance information and the right-eyediagnosis assistance information may be logically inconsistent in somecases. The outputting of the diagnosis assistance information (S1307)when the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and the right-eyediagnosis assistance information are logically inconsistent may beimplemented similarly as the outputting of the diagnosis assistanceinformation (S1107) described above with reference to FIG. 71.

2.5.6 Providing Binocular Diagnosis Assistance Information

Diagnosis assistance information obtained on the basis of binocularimages may be provided to a user. The client device, mobile device, ordiagnostic device may provide diagnosis assistance information to theuser. The diagnosis assistance information may be provided to the uservia a user interface.f

When the diagnosis assistance information includes left-eye diagnosisassistance information and right-eye diagnosis assistance information,each piece of diagnosis assistance information may be provided to theuser. For example, the user interface may include a left-eye informationdisplay unit and a right-eye information display unit, and the clientdevice may output left-eye diagnosis assistance information via theleft-eye information display unit and output right-eye diagnosisassistance information via the right-eye information display unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, binocular diagnosisassistance information obtained via a neural network model, outputdiagnosis assistance information obtained on the basis of the binoculardiagnosis assistance information, or secondary information obtained onthe basis of the binocular diagnosis assistance information or theoutput diagnosis assistance information may be provided to the user.

The binocular diagnosis assistance information provided to the user maybe left-eye diagnosis assistance information obtained on the basis of aleft-eye fundus image, right-eye diagnosis assistance informationobtained on the basis of a right-eye fundus image, or binoculardiagnosis assistance information obtained on the basis of binocularfundus images (or a binocular composite image or binocular compositedata). For example, the binocular diagnosis assistance information mayinclude left-eye disease presence/absence information, left-eye gradeinformation, or left-eye score information which is obtained on thebasis of the left-eye fundus image and indicates an extent of risk of aheart disease. Also, for example, the binocular diagnosis assistanceinformation may be right-eye disease presence/absence information,right-eye grade information, or right-eye score information which isobtained on the basis of the right-eye fundus image and indicates anextent of risk of a heart disease.

The output diagnosis assistance information provided to the user may beoutput diagnosis assistance information which is obtained on the basisof the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and the right-eyediagnosis assistance information. The output diagnosis assistanceinformation may be the left-eye diagnosis assistance information, theright-eye diagnosis assistance information, or intermediate information(or median) between the left-eye diagnosis assistance information andthe right-eye diagnosis assistance information. The output diagnosisassistance information may be information selected from the left-eyediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation. The output diagnosis assistance information may includereference information, which is selected from the left-eye diagnosisassistance information and the right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation, and the remaining information which is corrected.

The secondary information provided to the user may be secondaryinformation obtained on the basis of the left-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation, the right-eye diagnosis assistance information, and/or thebinocular diagnosis assistance information. The secondary information(or additional information) may include prescription information,instruction information, or a CAM. The above description may apply tothe secondary information.

Additional information may be provided for each of both eyes. Forexample, left-eye additional information which is obtained from theleft-eye diagnosis assistance information obtained on the basis of theleft eye and right-eye additional information which is obtained from theright-eye diagnosis assistance information obtained on the basis of theright eye may be provided. The additional information may be providedvia a user interface. For example, the client device may output theleft-eye additional information via the left-eye information displayunit of a user interface and output the right-eye additional informationvia the right-eye information display unit.

According to an embodiment, when a difference between the left-eyediagnosis assistance information and the right-eye diagnosis assistanceinformation exceeds a threshold value, a notice that notifies the userof the fact that an abnormal difference has occurred may be outputtogether with the left-eye diagnosis assistance information and theright-eye diagnosis assistance information.

For example, when a difference between left-eye score informationindicating a calcium score obtained on the basis of the left eye andright-eye score information indicating a calcium score obtained on thebasis of the right eye exceeds a reference difference, the client devicemay output a notice that notifies the user of the fact that a differencebetween the pieces of score information obtained from both eyes isabnormally large, together with the left-eye score information and theright-eye score information. For example, when the left-eye scoreinformation is larger than the right-eye score information, the clientdevice may output a visual effect which highlights the left-eye scoreinformation, together with the left-eye score information and theright-eye score information.

Also, for example, when heart disease diagnosis assistance informationobtained from the left eye (for example, left-eye calcium information)is significantly larger than heart disease diagnosis assistanceinformation obtained from the right eye, the client device may output anotice that informs of the fact that an abnormal state has occurred inthe circulatory system related to the left eye. For example, the clientdevice may output a notice indicating that an abnormal symptom such assclerosis, stenosis, or thrombus may be found in blood vessels connectedto the left eye.

The cases in which a method of determining quality or suitability of afundus image is applied to database construction, training of neuralnetwork models, and driving of neural network models has been mainlydescribed above, but details of the invention disclosed herein are notlimited thereto. Even in the case of images other than fundus images, adefect may occur in a predetermined region of the image, and whenpredetermined information is obtained on the basis of the image, detailsof the invention disclosed herein may analogically apply.

While the embodiments have been described above with a few embodimentsand the accompanying drawings, one of ordinary skill in the art may makevarious modifications and changes to the description above. For example,appropriate results can be achieved even if the above-describedtechniques are performed in a different order from that in theabove-described method, and/or the above-described elements such assystems, structures, devices, and circuits are coupled or combined indifferent forms from those in the above-described method or are replacedor substituted with other elements or their equivalents.

Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents tothe claims are also within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A diagnosis assistance method comprising:obtaining a target retinal image of a retina of a testee; obtainingcardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information for diagnosing atarget cardiovascular disease of the testee based on the target retinalimage and a cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance deep neuralnetwork model, the cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance deepneural network model storing correlations between retinal images andcardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information; and outputtingthe cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information of thetestee, wherein the cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistanceinformation includes at least one of grade information which includes agrade selected from a plurality of grades indicating an extent of riskof the target cardiovascular disease, score information for determininga risk of the target cardiovascular disease and risk information whichindicates whether the testee is included in a risk group for the targetcardiovascular disease or not.
 2. The diagnosis assistance method ofclaim 1, further comprising: reconstructing the target retinal image sothat a vessel element included in the target retinal image ishighlighted for facilitating the diagnosis of the target retinal image,wherein, the obtaining of the target cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance information includes obtaining the target cardiovasculardisease diagnosis assistance information based on the reconstructedtarget retinal image.
 3. The diagnosis assistance method of claim 2,wherein: the reconstructing of the target retinal image furthercomprises, performing pre-processing which highlights a region at whichthe vessel included in the target retinal image is distributed.
 4. Thediagnosis assistance method of claim 2, wherein the reconstructing ofthe target retinal image further comprises, extracting a region at whichthe vessel included in the target retinal image is distributed.
 5. Thediagnosis assistance method of claim 1, wherein the targetcardiovascular disease is a coronary artery disease.
 6. The diagnosisassistance method of claim 5, wherein: the grade information is coronaryartery disease risk grade information which describes a risk for thecoronary artery disease, the score information is coronary arterycalcium score information, and the risk information is coronary arterydisease risk information which indicates whether the testee is includedin a high-risk group of the coronary artery disease.
 7. The diagnosisassistance method of claim 1, wherein the cardiovascular diseasediagnosis assistance deep neural network model is trained to output thecardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information based on theretinal image, using retinal image training data including a pluralityof the retinal images on which a diagnosis assistance information labelis assigned.
 8. The diagnosis assistance method of claim 1, wherein theobtaining of the cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance informationof the testee further comprises, obtaining a class activation map forthe cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information according tothe target retinal image.
 9. The diagnosis assistance method of claim 8,wherein the outputting of the cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance information of the testee further comprises, outputting acardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance feature map which isgenerated based on the class activation map for the cardiovasculardisease diagnosis assistance information, wherein the feature map isprovided in a form which corresponds to the target retinal image, andwherein the feature map shows a feature region related to thecardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information.
 10. Thediagnosis assistance method of claim 9, wherein the outputting of thecardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information of the testeefurther comprises, outputting the target retinal image and thecardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance feature map beingoverlapped.
 11. The diagnosis assistance method of claim 1, wherein theoutputting of the cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistanceinformation of the testee further comprises, outputting instructioninformation which is determined based on the cardiovascular diseasediagnosis information of the testee, wherein the instruction informationis determined by using a pre-stored cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance information-instruction information relation.
 12. Thediagnosis assistance method of claim 11, wherein the instructioninformation is determined by the pre-stored cardiovascular diseasediagnosis assistance information-instruction information relation, andthe cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information-instructioninformation relation includes a possible medical treatment for thetestee corresponds to the cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistanceinformation.
 13. The diagnosis assistance method of claim 1, furthercomprising obtaining eye disease diagnosis assistance information, viathe cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance deep neural networkmodel which obtains the eye disease diagnosis information according tothe retinal image based on the target retinal image.
 14. A diagnosisassistance method for assisting diagnosis of a target cardiovasculardisease based on a retinal image, comprising: obtaining a target retinalimage from a retina of a testee; obtaining a cardiovascular diseasediagnosis assistance information for the testee based on the targetretinal image and a cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance deepneural network model which obtains the cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance information based on the retinal image, based on areconstructed target retinal image which is obtained by performing areconstruction highlighting a vessel element on the target retinalimage; and outputting the cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistanceinformation of the testee; wherein the cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance neural network model is trained using a retinal imagetraining data including a plurality of the retinal images of which thevessel element is highlighted and a plurality of the cardiovasculardisease diagnosis assistance labels assigned on the plurality of theretinal images.
 15. The diagnosis assistance method of claim 14, whereinthe target cardiovascular disease is a coronary artery disease, and thecardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information includes atleast one of grade information which includes a grade selected from aplurality of grades describing an extent of risk of the targetcardiovascular disease, score information for determining a risk of thetarget cardiovascular disease and risk information which indicateswhether the testee is included in a high-risk group of the targetcardiovascular disease or not.
 16. The diagnosis assistance method ofclaim 15, wherein the grade information is a coronary artery diseaserisk grade information which describes a risk for the coronary arterydisease, the score information is a coronary artery calcium scoreinformation, and the risk information is a coronary artery disease riskinformation which indicates whether the testee is included in ahigh-risk group of the coronary artery disease.
 17. The diagnosisassistance method of claim 14, wherein the outputting of thecardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information of the testee,further comprises, outputting an instruction information which isdetermined based on the cardiovascular disease diagnosis information ofthe testee, wherein the instruction information is determined by using apre-stored cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistanceinformation-instruction information relation, and the cardiovasculardisease diagnosis assistance information-instruction informationrelation includes a possible medical treatment for the testeecorresponds to the cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistanceinformation.
 18. The diagnosis assistance method of claim 14, furthercomprising: obtaining an eye disease diagnosis assistance information ofthe testee according to the target retinal image, via the cardiovasculardisease diagnosis assistance deep neural network model which obtains aneye disease diagnosis assistance information according to the retinalimage, based on the target retinal image.
 19. A cardiovascular diseasediagnosis assistance device comprising: a retinal image obtaining unitconfigured to obtain a target retinal image from a retina of a testee; acardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information obtaining unitconfigured to obtain cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistanceinformation for diagnosing a target cardiovascular disease of the testeebased on the target retinal image and a cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance model, the cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance deepneural network model storing correlations between retinal images andcardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information; and acardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information output unitconfigured to output the obtained cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance information, wherein, the cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance information includes at least one of grade information whichincludes a grade selected from a plurality of grades describing anextent of risk of the target cardiovascular disease, score informationfor determining a risk of the target cardiovascular disease and riskinformation which indicates whether the testee is included in ahigh-risk group of the target cardiovascular disease or not.
 20. Thecardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance device of claim 19, furthercomprising: an image reconstruction unit configured to reconstruct thetarget retinal image so that a vessel element included in the targetretinal image is highlighted, to facilitate the diagnosis of the targetcardiovascular disease, wherein, the cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance information obtaining unit obtains the cardiovascular diseasediagnosis assistance information based on the reconstructed targetretinal image.
 21. The cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistancedevice of claim 19, wherein: the target cardiovascular disease is acoronary artery disease, the grade information is a coronary arterydisease risk grade information which describes a risk for the coronaryartery disease, the score information is a coronary artery calcium scoreinformation, and the risk information is coronary artery disease riskinformation which indicates whether the testee is included in ahigh-risk group of the coronary artery disease.
 22. The cardiovasculardisease diagnosis assistance device of claim 19, wherein: thecardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information obtaining unitobtains a class activation map for the cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance information according to the target retinal image, thecardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information output unitwhich outputs a cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance feature mapwhich is provided in a form which corresponds to the target retinalimage, and the feature map shows a feature region related to thecardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information.
 23. Thecardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance device of claim 19, whereinthe cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information output unitoutputs an instruction information determined by using a pre-storedcardiovascular disease diagnosis assistance information-instructioninformation relation based on a cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance information.
 24. The cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance device of claim 19, further comprising: an eye diseasediagnosis assistance information obtaining unit which obtains an eyedisease diagnosis assistance information of the testee according to thetarget retinal image, via the cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance neural network model which obtains the eye disease diagnosisassistance information according to the retinal image, based on thetarget retinal image, wherein the cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance information output unit outputs the eye disease diagnosisassistance information.
 25. A non-transitory computer-readable recordingmedium storing instructions thereon, the instructions when executed by aprocessor cause the processor to: obtain a target retinal image of aretina of a testee; obtain cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistanceinformation for diagnosing a target cardiovascular disease of the testeebased on the target retinal image and a cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance deep neural network model, the cardiovascular diseasediagnosis assistance deep neural network model storing correlationsbetween retinal images and cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistanceinformation; and output the cardiovascular disease diagnosis assistanceinformation of the testee, wherein the cardiovascular disease diagnosisassistance information includes at least one of grade information whichincludes a grade selected from a plurality of grades indicating anextent of risk of the target cardiovascular disease, score informationfor determining a risk of the target cardiovascular disease and riskinformation which indicates whether the testee is included in a riskgroup for the target cardiovascular disease or not.